DJ 

150 



aass_HXjJ2L_ 

Book Q ■ 



I 



THE 

HISTORY 

' OF THE 

HOUSE OF ORANGE; 

■ • ° ? ' iifcij 

A brief Relation of the Glorious and Magnanimous / ' & 
OF MAJESTY'S BENOWNED ^BEDECESSORS, 

AND LIKEWISE OF 

His own Heroic Actions till the late wonderful Revolution; 

Together with 

THE HISTORY OF 

WILLIAM ANB> MARY, 

King and Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, fyc. 

BEING AN IMPARTIAL ACCOUNT OF 

THE MOST REMARKABLE PASSAGES AND TRANSACTIONS 

IN THESE KINGDOMS, 

From their Majesty's happy Accession to the Throne to this time. 



BY RICHARD BURTON 4*. 

==============56====== 



A NEW EDITION. 



r it TED V © * 



MACHELL ST ACE, No. 12, LITTLE QUEEN STREET, 
By W. Smith and Co. King Street, Seven Dials. 
1814. 



J** 



TO THE READER 



I AM very sensible that the greatness of the subject is a 
sufficient reason to deter me from adventuring to publish my 
mean endeavours, in relating the glorious and magnanimous 
achievements of his Majesty's renowned ancestors, as well as 
his own; or of the excellent conduct of their Majesties 
since their happy accession to the throne. But because we 
have such a furious generation of murmurers, who, if they 
had their desires, would ruin both themselves and their coun- 
try, and reduce us to French Popery and slavery : it may 
seem to be the interest of every man, to strive to undeceive 
those whom these miscreants would delude, since both our 
eternal and temporal happiness very much depends upon the 
supporting the present government against all its foreign and 
domestic enemies. A government founded upon law and 
justice; — a government calculated for the support of the 
Protestant interest throughout the world ; wherein we have 
a King and Queen of the same excellent religion with our- 
selves, a happiness which we have been deprived of for almost 
an age past ; Princes of such exemplary virtue and piety, 



iv 



TO THE READER. 



that they discourage vice and profaneness, and constantly 
endeavour to support goodness and modesty, which seemed 
lately designed to be hissed out of the 7iation* 

God grant that our ingratitude and impenitence may never 
deprive us of such inestimable blessings, and that we do not 
fall a sacrifice to our stupendous folly and discontents* 



THE 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



HOUSE of ORANGE. 



The family of Nassau, from whom our Gracious Sovereign is 
descended, is not undeservedly accounted one of the most ancient 
and honourable in Europe ; not only for its great alliances and 
branches, but also by the advancement of one of this house to the 
# empire of Germany, Adolphus Nassau by name, about the year 
1200, and that there has been a succession of the family in a direct 
line for above a thousand years past; and among them Otho, Count 
of Nassau, who lived about six hundred years since, and had two 
wives, with the first of whom he had the province of Gueldres, and 
with the other that of Zutphen. About three hundred years after, 
a second Count Otho of Nassau, married the Countess of Vranden, 
whereby he became possessed of several other territories in the 
Netherlands. In the year 1404, Engilbert, who was his grand- 
child, married the heiress of the town of Breda and Locke, and 
was grandfather to Engilbert, second Earl of Nassau, who, in 1491, 
was, by Maximilian, King of the Romans, going into Hungary, 
made Governor, Lieutenant and Captain- General of Flanders ; and 
afterwards, in 1501, Archduke Philip going into Spain, constituted 
him Governor- General of the Netherlands; an experienced Prince 
both in war and peace, but dying childless, left his brother John his 
large territories. This John had two sons : upon Henry, the eldest, 
he bestowed all his possessions in the Low Countries, and to his 
youngest son William he bequeathed all his inheritance in Ger. 

B 



2 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



many. By the earnest endeavours of Henry Nassau, Charles V". 
was advanced to the empire, against the pretensions of Francis I. 
the French King, and at his coronation placed the crown on his 
head; and yet when, upon concluding peace between these two 
monarchs, Henry was sent by the Emperor to do homage to King 
Francis for the county of Flanders and Artois ; that Prince, for- 
getting former differences, and being fully sensible of his extraordi- 
nary merits, married him to Claudia, only sister to Philibert Chalon 
Prince of Orange, by which marriage his only son Revens, of 
Orange and Chalons, became Prince of Orange. 

William Earl of Nassau, brother to Prince Henry, professed the 
Protestant religion, and expelled popery out of his territories, and 
was father to the great William of Nassau, who attained to be 
Prince of Orange, and Lord of all the possessions of the House of 
Chalons, by the last will of Revens de Nassau, who died childless. 

The Emperor Charles V. having a favour for the House of 
Orange, and received great services from them, was concerned 
that the young Prince William should be educated in the reformed 
religion, and therefore took him with much regret from his father, 
and endeavoured to instruct him in the Romish faith, but afterward 
the former opinions, which he had sucked in with his mother's milk, 
prevailed upon him, so that he became an earnest professor of Pro- 
testantism. - 

William Count of Nassau, his father, had five sons and seven 
daughters, by J uliana Countess of Stolberg. 

William, the eldest, was born in 1533, at the castle of Dillem- 
berg, in the county of Nassau, and being taken from his father by 
the Emperor Charles, as we said, he became a great favourite by 
his extraordinary wisdom and modesty, so that the Emperor con- 
fessed this young Prince often furnished him with notions and hints 
he should else never have thought . of, and upon giving of private 
audiences to ambassadors, when the Prince would discreetly offer to 
withdraw, the Emperor mildly reminded him, saying, " Stay, 
Prince," and it was admired by the whole court, that a Prince, not 
above twenty years old, should be intrusted with all the secrets of 
the empire, and carry the imperial crown, upon his resignation, to 
his brother Ferdinand, though the Prince, with some reluctancy, 
seemed to refuse the employment, by alleging, that it was no ways 
proper for him to carry to another that crown, which his uncle 
Henry of Nassau had set upon his head. Yea, the Emperor had so 
much confidence in his conduct, that in the absence of the Duke of 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



5 



Savoy, bis General of the Low Countries, though the Prince was 
not above twenty-two years old, yet, contrary to the advice of all 
his council, rejecting all other experienced generals, he constituted 
him generalissimo, who managed that great employ with such dis- 
cretion and courage, that he caused Philipville and Charlemont to 
be built in the sight of the French army, which was then com- 
manded by Admiral Castiilon, that great captain. 

These magnanimous actions caused the Emperor to recommend 
the Prince of Orange to Philip II. his son ; but his virtue and cou- 
rage were so emulated by the Spaniards, that all his most innocent 
words and actions were misinterpreted, and the opposition that the 
provinces made to the King's will and pleasure in defence of their 
privileges were attributed to his contrivance, which King Philip 
made him sensible of when he was embarking from Flushing for 
Spain, charging him with preventing all his private intrigues, with a 
furious countenance ; and when the Prince mildly replied, that all 
had been done by the states themselves, the King, shaking him by 
the wrist, replied, " No, not the states, but you, you, you, are the 
occasion of it;" which severe reproach in public so disgusted the 
Prinjce, that he suddenly left the King without further ceremony, 
only wishing him a good voyage, and so left him in the middle of 
Flushing, which he knew had much respect for him ; and that which 
increased the Prince's indignation against the Spanish government 
was, that he saw himsejf deprived of the government of the Ne- 
therlands, which his predecessors always enjoyed, and Cardinal 
Granville, his implacable adversary, put in his place, which pro- 
ceedings of King Philip disobliged both the nobility and people, 
who hated the pride of Philip as much as they admired the affability 
of his father Charles, which was much increased when the states 
(who much dreaded the Spanish insolency,) in a full assembly at 
Gaunt, desiring the King to withdraw his foreign troops out of the 
provinces, and intrust the natives with the fortified places, and not 
advance foreign ministers to the government. The King was so far 
incensed thereat, that he ordered his sister Margaret of Austria 
to set up the Spanish inquisition, and to make divers new bishops. 
And these were the principal causes of the defection and terrible 
disorders that followed : for the people abhorring the name of the 
inquisition and the new bishops as members of it, and the nobility 
being highly incensed at the imperious temper of Granville, after 
having long suffered under his arrogance, at length the Prince of 
Orange, Count Horn, and Count Egmont sent King Philip word, 

B 2 



4 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



" That unless he recalled the cardinal out of the Low Countries, his 
violent counsels, which were so much abhorred by all, would cer- 
tainly occasion a revolt in those provinces." This, with much re- 
gret, was done ; but another, worse than he, was designed in his 
room, the bloody Duke of Alva, with an army of Spaniards and 
Italians, which the Prince and nobility being sensible was to take 
revenge for the affront to Granville, the Prince desired the go- 
verness to be dismissed from his governments of Holland, Zealand, 
Utrecht and Burgundy, which the Duchess refused, but desired him 
to remove his brother Count Lodowick from his person, as being 
suspected to give him bad council, and likewise to take a new oath 
of allegiance to King Philip, both which he denied, and as to the 
last alleged, " That such an oath would oblige him to extirpate 
heretics, and might compel him to put his own wife to death, who 
was a Protestant, and that, if he should take another oath, it might 
be thought he had broken the first." 

But the governess being very zealous for settling the inquisition 
and the new bishops, about four hundred gentlemen, with Prince 
Lewis of Nassau at the head of them, and several other nobles, 
presented a petition against it, and were those who were afterward 
called guese, or beggars, so nick-named for their plain apparel by 
Count Barlemont, a favourite of the Duchess, which, though given 
in scorn, did much advance the confederacy that followed, and 
strengthened the Prince of Orange's party ; for their petition being 
absolutely rejected, these gentlemen caused medals to be made, with 
the King's picture on one side, and a beggar's dish and wallet on the 
other, with this inscriptio/i, " Faithful to God and the King even to 
the carrying of the wallet," intimating that they were better subjects 
to the King than Barlemont and his adherents ; and the Prinze of 
Orange, with the other lords, perceiving their petition slighted, 
consulted their own safety ; most of them were for taking arms "to 
oppose the landing of the Spaniards in the Netherlands, since, by 
intercepted letters, they plainly discovered the design was to ruin 
and destroy them ; but Count Egmont, governor of Flanders and 
Artois, opposed it, and being confident of his own good services, 
advised them to rely upon the King's clemency and mercy, to which 
the Prince of Orange replied, " That the King's mercy upon which 
he trusted would be his ruin, and that the Spaniards would make a 
bridge of him to come into the Low Countries, and then break him ;" 
at which words embracing the count, as if foreseeing they should 
never meet again, they parted with tears in their eyes. The Prince* 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



3 



instantly went with his family to his town of Breda, only he left his 
eldest son Philip to study in Lovain ; and after that, to Dillemberg, 
the ancient seat of the Nassau s. 

Soon after, the Duke of Alva with an array of old Spanish and 
Italian soldiers came into the Netherlands, and Count Egmont 
waiting* upon him, he said aloud, Behold the great Lutheran ; yet 
the Count took no notice of it, but presented him with two fine 
horses. The Duke being* arrived at Brussels, produced his com- 
mission, whereby he was made absolute governor in all causes what- 
soever: he then dismissed the assembly of the states, and constituted 
a court of twelve men, who were to inspect into the troubles. They 
soon imprisoned a great number of people of all degrees and quali- 
ties, and eighteen lords and gentlemen were put to death at Brussels^ 
and the Counts Egmont and Horn imprisoned, and soon after be- 
headed in the market-place of that city; the first being much pitied 
by the people for his fond credulity, who rejoiced at the safety of 
the Prince of Orange : and Cardinal Granville who was then at 
Rome, hearing of these proceedings, asked the messenger whether 
the Duke had taken Silence, which was a name given to the Prince 
for secrecy and few words ; who replying no : " Nay," says Granville, 
"if that fish has escaped the net, the Duke of Alva's draught is 
nothing worth J' 

The cruel and barbarous proceedings of this new governor caused 
a great many to leave the country, who were summoned to appear 
before the bloody council of twelve, at a certain day, and upon their 
refusal, all their estates were confiscated ; among others, the Prihce 
of Orange, Count Culenburgh, and other lords were cited ; the 
Prince refused, alleging, " That being of the order of the golden 
fleece 2 he could not be judged by any but the King and the com- 
panions of that order." He likewise appealed to the Emperor Maxi- 
milian, brother to King Philip, and other German Princes, implor- 
ing their aid, who approved of his reasons, and declared their dislike 
of the proceedings of the Duke of Alva : the time for the Prince's 
appearing being expired, his principalities were all declared to be 
forfeited, a Spanish garrison was put into Breda, and his eldest son 
Philip William was sent to Spain to be educated in the Roman re- 
ligion, and also for an hostage for his father. 

And thus King Philip by these cursed counsels, and the rigorous 
usage of his subjects, was himself the occasion of the loss of the 
united Netherlands ; who, finding all their privileges violated, and 
their utter extirpation determined, they resolved to throw off this 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



intolerable yoke, and afterwards, in some of their ensigns had this 
motto, " We will either recover our liberties, or perish in the at- 
tempt." And the Prince of Orange observing himself so roughly 
and unjustly used, being reproached as a public enemy, and exposed 
to the malice of his implacable adversaries, having his innocent son, 
and his great estate ravished from him, he thought it high time to 
defend his honour and his life, by force of arms : and to engage 
for religion and liberty in the common quarrel of his country. And 
thereupon he raised an army in Germany, which he sent unto Frieze- 
land, under his brothers Lewis and Adolphus, of Nassau; andbeing 
met by Count Arembergh, with a considerable force, a battle fol- 
lowed, wherein the Nassovians gained a considerable victory, the 
Spanish army being totally routed, and Arembergh himself with the 
principle commanders slain, and all their cannon, baggage, and a 
great sum of money sent to pay the soldiers, taken. This defeat 
happened in 1568. But Count Lewis enjoyed this victory very little, 
for the Duke of Alva pursuing him, fell upon him just at the time 
when the Germans were all in a mutiny for their pay, who rather 
chose to be miserably slain, than to defend themselves; so that six 
thousand were killed or drowned, Adolphus hardly making his escape. 

The Prince nothing discouraged at this misfortune, raised another 
army of twenty-eight thousand French and Germans, and published 
a declaration, wherein he cleared his innocence of those crimes 
objected against him, charging the Duke and the council of blood 
with the causes of the war, and then passing the Rhine by tying his 
horses together to break the force of the river, the foot arrived 
silently in the night to the other shore, which so surprized that Duke 
of Alva, that he would not believe it at first, saying, " Sure ye do 
not think them an army of birds." Arriving thus into Brabant, he 
offered Alva battle, which the other declined ; so that after twenty- 
nine several attempts to engage him to a combat, and the city's not 
revolting to the Prince as he expected, and the Germans being again 
ready to mutiny for want of pay, it was thought adviseable to dis- 
miss his army, paying part of their arrears by the sale of his plate, 
artillerjr, and baggage, and engaging his principality of Orange to 
his chief officers for the remainder ; yet, before their disbanding, he 
routed eighteen companies of the enemy's foot, and three hundred 
horse of the Spaniards, near Cambray ; most of the commanders 
being taken prisoners, and the Duke of Alva's son slain. 

After this, with only one thousand two hundred horse, the Prince 
and his two brothers went into France to the assistance of the Pro- 



HOUSE OF ORANGE, 



7 



testants against the Duke of Guise and his partizans, where he was 
very successful in several encounters, and at length, by the advice 
of the great Admiral Cologni, he gave out commissions to several 
persons of quality, fugitives of the low countries, to infest the 
Spaniards by sea, by which means he soon became master of all 
« Holland and Zealand. The Germans being driven out of the Nether- 
lands, the Duke of Alva, as if he had conspired to lose these countries, 
instantly levied new taxes, even the tenths of all goods and estates, 
which so enraged the people that were already near ruined by the 
war, that upon the privateers (who were sent abroad by the Prince's 
commission) taking the town of Brill, a port in Zealand, eight cities 
in Holland, and all the cities in Zealand, except Middleburgh, de- 
clared for the Prince of Orange; and Flushing, a considerable city, 
being animated by the priest at mass, on Easter-day in the morning, 
turned out the Spanish garrisons in such fury, that they hanged 
Alvarez, kinsman to the Duke of Alva. And William, Count of 
Bergen, at the same time took several other towns in Friezeland, 
and, which most astonished Alva, Lewis of Nassau, by the assist- 
ance of the French, took Mons, the chief city of Heynault. 

Meanwhile, the Prince of Orange, with an army of eleven thou- 
sand foot, and six thousand horse, marched to Lovain, which pre- 
sented him with sixteen thousand crowns, and was received into 
Mechlin, and from thence came within sight of Alva's army, which 
was strongly fortified, yet the Prince resolved to force his intrench- 
ments, or oblige him to a battle, which, whilst he was consulting, he 
received advice of the horrid massacre at Paris, whereby he lost the 
Admiral Chastillion, and many other of his dearest friends, together 
with all hopes of any more relief from France ; so that not being able 
to oblige the Duke to a battle, and doubting the French commanders, 
who were his chief strength, should desert him upon news of the 
bloody massacre, he wrote to his brother Lewis to make terms for 
delivering up Mons, then besieged by Alva; and then with slow 
marches retreated to the Rhine, yet with some loss and danger ; for 
a detachment of* Spanish horse and foot breaking into his camp in 
the night, killed and burnt all before them as far as his own tent, 
where he was fast asleep ; but a little dog which used to lie on his 
bed, never left barking and scratching his face till he^ had waked 
him, so that leaping out of his bed, and perceiving the peril he was 
in, he hastened to his men, who were now coming to his rescue, and 
fell upon the Spaniards so furiously, that most of the party, which 
were about a thousand horse and foot, were cut off in their retreat. 



8 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



After which, the Prince dismissed his army and came into Holland ; 
these states, with those of Zealand, having already acknowledged 
him for their governor, and taken an oath to stand by him with their 
lives and fortunes. 

But though the Prince had the full power of the government in 
his own hands, yet he acted all matters in the name of the states, 
and by his extreme diligence, in four month's time he had provided 
a fleet of one hundred and fifty sail, well rigged and manned, in the 
port of Flushing; who, for ten years after, did unspeakable damage 
to the Spaniards, and were never but once worsted by them. He 
likewise banished all Romish superstitions out of the churches, that 
difference in religion might render them more irreconcileable to their 
old adversary. 

Rut the Duke of Alva having retaken Mons, sent his son to re- 
duce some other cities in Holland, and Guelderland, and because 
the town of Haarlem had formerly received the Prince of Orange, 
after the Duke had reduced it by famine, whereof near thirteen thou- 
sand died, he made a dreadful example of this place, the Spaniards 
first hanging the governor, and for several days together hanging 
and drowning the ministers, magistrates, and people of the city, to 
the number of near two thousand, which butcheries made the Hol- 
landers to be still more resolved and obstinate against them ; so that 
the other towns made a more vigorous defence, for fear of failing 
into the hands of such cruel blood hounds. Soon after, the Duke of 
Alva was recalled out of the Netherlands, and Lewis Requesones, of 
a milder temper, was sent to succeed him- King Philip now finding 
that rigor and barbarity did but enrage the Netherlands, and made 
them more averse to his government : this new governor had the 
fortune, at his arrival, to be an eye-witness of the defeat of his 
master's fleet, by that of the Prince of Orange ; but yet was more 
fortunate by land; for Prince Lewis, of Nassau, having brought a 
fourth army out of Germany of seven thousand foot and four thou- 
sand horse, was defeated by the Spaniards near Nimmeguen : the 
Germans, according to their usual custom, calling for their pay just as 
the battle began, and thereby were the ruin of themselves, as well as 
of their general's honour ; the Prince Lewis, with his brother Prince 
Henry, and the Count Palatine being all three killed in this fight. 
Upon which victory, the Spaniards besieged Leyden, and reduced 
it to very great extremity, so that they were ready to capitulate : 
but the Prince having an account of their condition, by letters tied 
to pigeons and sent into the town, resolved to make the utmost 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



effort possible to relieve it ; and having provided two hundred flat- 
bottom boats, of fourteen or sixteen oars, and two guns a-piece, 
which he filled with seamen and provisions, when all things were 
prepared, the Hollanders broke down the dam that kept out the sea, 
which thereupon entered with such fury into the country, that it was 
overwhelmed with water, and the camp of the Spaniards was over- 
flowed, so that the city received supplies forty miles off by water"; 
and the Spaniards having sunk their cannon after four month's fruit- 
less labour, were forced to raise the siege, being pursued by the 
Dutch in their boats, with long grappling irons, wherewith they 
drowned and destroyed a great number of their enemies. This de- 
liverance from a barbarous and inhuman enemy, endeared the Prince 
of Orange to those of Leyden, who, to recompense their losses by 
the inundation, erected an university there, which he endowed with 
ample revenues and privileges. 

But to recompense this loss, Requesones reduced Zurieh-zee ; but 
the Spaniards and Germans falling at variance about their pay, and 
Requesones dying at the same time, the unruly soldiers fell upon 
Maestricht and Antwerp, both which towns they plundered and ran- 
sacked of an immense treasure, rated at above twenty millions. The 
robberies of those foreign mutineers, caused such an abhorrence and 
detestation of the government in the people, that those which had 
hitherto been obedient to the Spanish government, now declared the 
Spaniards enemies to their King and country, and called in the 
Prince of Orange to their assistance ; all the provinces, except Lux- 
emburg, entering into an association, and solemnly swearing to assist 
each other in delivering their country from Spanish slavery. This 
happened in 1 576, when King Philip, to remedy these disorders, sent 
Don John, of Austria, to be governor of the Netherlands, who, by 
bis mild and affable behaviour, wheedled the provinces for a time 
to desist from their gallant resolution ; and though the Prince of 
Orange, who saw the bottom of the Spaniards' designs, continually 
forewarned them not to be deluded with guilded promises; yet, Don 
John having solemnly agreed that the States General should assem- 
ble, and that the Spaniards and Germans should depart out of the 
Netherlands, several of the provinces again submitted to King Philip ; 
the Prince of Orange, with the states of Holland and Zealand, pro- 
testing against their proceedings, especially as to the articles about 
religion : but Don John was no sooner settled in his government, 
being received with much magnificence at Brussels, but he quickly 
made good the Prince's premonitions, for he seized upon Namur and 

c 



10 



thi; hisi^ohy of the 



Charlemont, and sent for the foreign troops. Whereupon, the states 
finding themselves deluded, the)* resolved to oppose him by arms, 
and having demolished the castle of Antwerp, they joined with the 
Prince of Orange, and sent to desire his presence at Brussels, where 
he was received with all kinds of joy, And the acclamations of the 
people, and declared governor of Brabant, and superintendant of 
the revenues of the provinces. 

The States General having declared Don John of Austria the 
public enemy of their country, he thereupon recalled the Italians, 
and other foreigners, who were banished by the perpetual edict, as 
it was called, and with them defeated the army of the states at Gem- 
blours, though this loss was recompensed by the surrender of the 
famous city of Amsterdam, eight days after, which was then united 
to the body of Holland. 

In the year 1579, the Prince of Orange laid the foundation of the 
republic in the low countries, by the strict union he made between 
the provinces of Gueldres, Z^rphen, Holland, Zealand,, Friezelandj 
and the Ommelands, consisting of twenty-five articles, the chief 
whereof was, "That these provinces should mutually assist each 
other against the common enemy, and not treat of war or peace 
without general consent :" this was called the treaty of Utrecht, 
because signed in that city ; and to shew that union was absolutely 
necessary for their preservation, the states took this for their motto, 
" Concordia parvae res crescunt;" By concord little things grow 
great. But the Prince finding the power of these few provinces not 
sufficient to defend themselves against the other provinces that had 
reconciled themselves to Spain, nor against that potent crown, he 
thought it adviseable to choose some neighbour Prince to be their 
protector, and judged. none more proper than the Duke of Anjou 
and Alenson, the only brother of Henry III. King of France, and 
commissioners being sent to him, it. was soon agreed, that these six 
provinces of Holland, Zealand, Brabant, Flanders, Utrecht, and 
Friezeiand, should acknowledge him for their sovereign, upon con- 
dition, " That he should maintain them in their present privileges 
and religion; that he should assemble the States General once a year, 
or oftener, if they thought fit ; that he should not dispose of any 
offices or preferments without the consent of the state. Lastly, That 
if he should endeavour to infringe or violate this treaty, he should 
immediately forfeit his sovereignty, and they be fully absolved 1 
from any allegiance to him, and be at liberty to choose another sove- 
reign."' 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



ii 



This agreement being: made, Archduke Matthias, brother to Ro- 
dolphus, Emperor of Germany, who had been sent for some time 
before by some factious Lords, (who envied the virtue and glory of 
the Prince of Orange) finding that the states sought for a more 
powerful protector, took his leave and retired into Germany, though 
not without large acknowledgments and presents from the States 
General. The Prince of Orange hastened the march of the Duke of 
Alenson, whose presence he knew was very considerable, especially, 
since in this year 1580, the King of Spain had published a most 
bloody prosecution against him, " Reproaching him with the favours 
bestowed on him by his father, Charles V. and declaring him to be* 
a rebel, heretic, hypocrite, like to Cain and Judas, of an obdurate 
conscience, a villain, the head of the Netherland troubles, a plague 
to Christendom, and an enemy to all mankind declaring farther, 
" That he did prosecute and banish him out of his countries and 
estates, forbidding any of his subjects to converse with, or relieve 
him, giving all his estate to those that would take it, promising, upon 
the word of a King, and as the Minister of Almighty God, That if 
any would deliver him alive or dead, or else take away his life, he 
would give to htm, or his heirs, five thousand crowns of gold, and 
the free pardon of all the crimes that he had before been guilty of; 
and if they were not noble, to make them so, and to reward all that 
shall assist them therein ; and likewise that all his adherents should 
be banished, and their lives and estates given for a prey to any that 
would take them." 

The Prince of Orange made a very smart apology in answer here- 
unto, wherein he fully vindicates himself from all the crimes objected 
against him, proving at large, " That all the miseries of the Nether- 
lands ought to be imputed to the council of Spain, who endeavoured 
to reduce those countries to absolute slavery, both as to religion and 
civil liberties, and acting more like mad-men than politicians, and 
like that foolish King Rehoboam, following the silly advice of a 
weak woman, and Cardinal Granval the Pope's creature, telling the 
King, that his father had chastized the people with whips, but the 
son ought to whip them with scorpions, and therefore they endea- 
voured to bring in the inquisition, and the new bishops which were 
the occasion of all these commotions. And as to his taking arms 
against his sovereign, he sheweth, that Henry Bastard, of Castile, 
the King's great grandfather, had with his own hands slain the King 
Don Pedro the cruel, bis lawful brother, and possessed his kingdom, 
whose successor King Philip was, and enjoyed it to this day. AnS 



If 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



that there was a reciprocal bond between a Prince and a subject? 
and if the Prince infringes his oath, the subject is freed from his 
allegiance ; that the King of Spain was admitted to be Duke of Bra- 
bant, upon certain conditions, which he had sworn to maintain, and 
yet had notoriously violated ; and if the nobility did not endeavour 
by arms (since no other means was to be found) to preserve and 
defend their liberties, they ought to be accounted guilty of perjury, 
treachery, and rebellion to the states of the country. And whereas, 
the King had offered money to take away his life, he did not doubt 
of God's protection, yet certainly he could never be accounted a 
gentleman by persons of honour, who would be so wicked and in- 
famous to murder a man for money, except they were such Spaniards, 
who being descended from the Moors and Jews, might retain that 
quality from their ancestors, who offered money to Judas to betray 
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into their hands, that they might 
crucify him." 

The Prince concluded his apology by telling the States General, 
" That since their peace and quiet seemed to depend upon his death, 
he was willing to lay down his life to free them from the calamities 
under which they suffered, having already for their sakes lost his 
estate, his brethren : yea, and his own son, and that his head, over 
which no Prince or potentate on earth had any power, was yet at 
their command, and that he would be a willing sacrifice to procure 
their tranquillity ; but if they thought fit still to use his service, he 
would employ his life, council, and all he had in the world, for the 
defence and preservation of the Netherlands." 

In answer to this the states declare, that they are fully satisfied 
that the crimes and slanders charged upon the Prince, are altogether 
false and malicious, and that all the honours that had been conferred 
on him, were so far from being sought for or desired by him, that he 
only accepted them at their earnest request and entreaty, with the 
full consent, and by the free election of the country, and therefore 
they humbly entreated him still to continue his administration, and 
likewise to accept of a guard for his person against any villainous 
attempts upon his life. 

The States General of the united provinces perceiving, that, not- 
withstanding the intercession both of the Emperor, the French King, 
the Queen of England, and other Princes and states of Christendom 
to King Philip, on their behalf, yet, he still continued obstinately 
resolved to yield to nothing but what might reduce their country ab- 
solutely to popery and slavery ; thereupon, in 1581, they published 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



IS 



an edict of renunciation against him, wherein they declare, " That 
it being acknowledged by all mankind that a Prince is ordained of 
God to preserve his subjects from all injuries and violence, even as 
a shepherd defends his sheep, and that the people were never created 
to be bondmen and slaves to his will and pleasure, whether his 
commands are right or wrong, but that he is advanced to that dig- 
nity to govern them by equity and reason, and to cherish them as a 
father doth his children, even with the peril of his life. If a King, 
therefore, fail herein, and instead of protecting his subjects shall 
strive to destroy them and deprive them of their ancient laws and 
privileges, and endeavour to make them bond slaves, his subjects 
are thereupon discharged from all subjection to such a Sovereign, 
and are to reckon and esteem him a tyrant, and that he is abso- 
lutely fallen from his former dignity and sovereignty ; and the estates 
of the country may lawfully and freely abandon him, and elect 
another Prince to protect and defend them in his place : especially 
when his subjects, neither by prayers nor petitions, can mollify his 
heart, nor divert him from his tyrannical and arbitrary courses, 
since they have then no other way to preserve their ancient liber- 
ties, lives, wives, children and estates ; which, according to the 
laws of God and nature, they are bound to defend, and which hath 
been practised in divers countries, especially in those where the 
King was obliged, by oath, to govern according to law, and was 
admitted to the sovereignty upon certain conditions and special 
contracts. 

" Now it being apparent to all the world that Philip King of 
Spain, giving ear to certain wicked counsellors, hath, in every par- 
ticular, broken all the oaths and obligations which he had entered 
into for the defence of those provinces, and hath determined to en- 
slave, ruin, and destroy them, and all their interest therein, &c. 
We, the States General, being pressed by extreme necessities, do, 
by a general resolution and consent, declare the King of Spain to 
be fallen from the government, dominion and jurisdiction of these 
countries, and we are resolved never hereafter to acknowledge him 
for our Prince and Sovereign Lord, but do hereby declare ourselves 
and all the inhabitants of these provinces, to be for ever discharged 
from all manner of oaths and allegiance to the said King, &c. In 
witness whereof, we have caused our seals to be hereunto annexed. 
July 26, 1581." 

The Duke of Anjou having been in England to make a visit to 
Queen Elizabeth, returned again to Antwerp, after three months 



14 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



splendid entertainment in the English court; the Queen, at his de- 
parture, earnestly recommending to him to govern the people with 
mildness and to endeavour to gain their affections, which would be 
the most durable foundation that he could lay for the security of his 
government. The Duke was received at Antwerp with all' kind of 
magnificence, being made Duke of Brabant with much solemnity, 
and having taken an oath to protect and defend them in all their 
rights : afterward the nobility and gentry swore allegiance to him as 
their Prince and governor. 

Soon after a plot was laid to kill the Prince of Orange, which 
was thus managed; Gaspar de Anastro, a Spanish merchant living 
in Antwerp, finding his affairs in a very low condition, by reason of 
the many debts he had contracted and was not abie to pay, he 
bethought himself of the great reward promised by the King of 
Spain to the murderers of the Prince of Orange ; and being greedy 
of this prey, which he thought might again retrieve his credit, he 
consulted with the governor of Gravelin how to put this fact in exe- 
cution, and at length concluded to employ a wicked boy he had called 
Joanille to perpetrate it, who no sooner was acquainted with it but 
he readily undertook it. The day appointed for this execrable deed 
was on a Sunday, when the Duke of Anjou making a great feast, the 
Prince of Orange was present. The boy accordingly came to the 
house, where he was confessed by a jacobin friar, and promised 
the pardon of all his sins ; the priest likewise deluding him, and 
saying that he should go invisible, having given him some charac- 
ters in papers, with frogs' bones and other trifles, that were found 
in his pocket. Being thus strengthened in his resolution he drank a 
glass or two of wine, and the ghostly father having given him his 
blessing at the stairs' foot, left him. Joanille went into the room, 
where the Prince and several Lords were at dinner, clad like a 
Frenchman, and was thought a servant to one of the French noble- 
men ; he endeavoured to come near the Prince, having charged his 
pistol with two bullets, designing to shoot him behind, as he had 
been instructed, but was still hindered. The Prince, having dined, 
went toward his withdrawing-room, shewing by the way to a no- 
bleman the cruelties of the Spaniards in the Netherlands, wrought 
in tapestry, when the murderer, having placed himself in a window 
of the hall, discharged his pistol against the hinder part of his 
head, but the Prince turning his face at the same instant, the 
bullet entered in at the throat, it being so near that the fire entered 
with the wound, burning his ruff and his beard, and breaking one 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



II 



of his teeth, the bullet coming out of the left cheek, near the nose$ 
without hurting his tongue. This terrible blow being given,, all 
present were amazed, and one of the halberdiers in a rage thrust 
the villain through, and a page presently after dispatched him. The 
boy was quickly known to belong to Anastro, who was imprisoned, 
together with the monk ; the first was released, but the friar, to- 
gether with the carcass of the murderer, were both hanged and 
afterward quartered. The Prince's wound was somewhat dangerous, 
for the bleeding of the jugular vein could by no art nor means be 
stopped, till they contrived, that for nine days together several per- 
sons appointed should hold their thumbs upon the wound night and 
day, so that at length it closed and the danger was over. At first 
the French were thought to have committed the fact, but the Prince 
of Orange, though weak, writing in his own hands to the magis- 
trates of Antwerp to let them know it was a Spaniard, they at 
length were satisfied. The grief of that great city was extraor- 
dinary upon the Prince's being wounded, the magistrates commanding 
fasts to be kept to pray for his recovery, and their joy was as great 
when they heard he was out of danger. The Prince of Parma, 
governor of the Spanish Netherlands, concluded he was dead, and 
sent mild letters to several cities to surrender to him. 

After this the Duke of Anjou, envying the power of the Prince 
of Orange, which he thought eclipsed his own, and not enduring to 
be a Sovereign only in name, with such a limited authority, by the 
advice of some of his young counsellors, he resolved to seize upon 
the principal places in the Netherlands ; that is, Antwerp, Bruges, 
Dunkirk and Dendermond, upon pretence that the people of Ant- 
werp had encompassed his palace with design to murder him. The 
two last he took possession of, but the citizens of Bruges and Ant- 
werp defended themselves with so much courage, that the French 
were killed in such heaps before the gates, as prevented those with- 
out from entering in to their relief. The Flemings had some suspi- 
cions the Prince was concerned in the attempt, which was somewhat 
occasioned by his fourth marriage with Lovise de Cologny, a 
French lady ; but he perceiving it, and that the States party grew 
every day weaker in the Walloon provinces, retired 1 into Holland, 
where he thought himself more secure, and his life less exposed to 
the bigotted Papists, and settled at the city of Delph, where Henry 
Frederick, grandfother to our present Gracious Sovereign, was born. 

The Duke of Anjou's party being defeated, he was obliged to 
restore those places of which he had made himself master; and, re 5 - 



16 THE HISTORY OF THE 



turning into France, died soon after, some say of poison, others of 
mere vexation for this inglorious enterprize. 

The Spaniards thinking they had no greater enemy in the world 
than the Prince of Orange, and that he being gone they should at- 
tain their full purposes for enslaving the Netherlands, they used all 
manner of base and treacherous practices to murder and destroy 
him, which they too successfully effected in the manner following. 
In May, 1584, a young man, of about twenty-seven, coming to the 
Prince's court at UeJph, delivered him a letter as he passed along; 
the Prince demanding whence it came, the youth, being of a seem- 
ing innocent countenance, replied, that it was his own letter, and 
contained matter of concernment for the service of the country; 
it was subscribed Francis Guyon. The Prince went away, and the 
next day the fellow desiring a counsellor of the Prince's that he 
might be heard and receive an answer of his letter, and that he had 
several other things of importance to discover both concerning the" 
country and religion. The Prince having notice of it, commanded 
one of his council to examine him, to whom he gave a large ac- 
count of his pretended adventures, and that he had procured several 
blanks (which he produced) with Count Mansfieldt's seal, which 
were given him for the use of passports for victuallers, but might be 
serviceable to the Prince upon other occasions. The Prince reco- 
vered the blank passports, intending to try some experiment with 
them, and by this means he became so familiar at court, that the 
Prince, some days after, having an account of the death of the 
Duke of Anjou, he sent for this villain into his chamber, to inquire 
something of him, while he was in bed, and the wretch afterwards 
confessed in prison, that if he had then had a dagger or penknife 
he would have certainly slain him then. After this he came con- 
stantly to prayers and sermons, and was observed to read Du Bar- 
ta's works, particularly the History of Judith and Holofernes, 
where there are certain persuasions and encouragements to cut off 
tyrants ; sometimes he borrowed a bible of the porter upon pretence 
of religion, so that at length he went about the court without suspi- 
cion. Awhile after the Prince ordered him to be sent to Count 
Biron into France, to try if he could make any advantage of the 
passports, upon which he desired money to buy shoes and stock- 
ings, being in an ill condition. The Prince ordered him ten or 
twelve crowns. Next day he bought a pistol of one of the guard, 
but finding it did not^hoot true, he bought two more, which were 
according to his mind. After this he watched when the Prince went 



THE HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



17 



down to the hall to dinner, and demanded a passporjt of him, but in 
such a hollow and confused voice that the Princess asked what he 
was, for she did not like his countenance : the Prince told her his 
business. After dinner, the Prince going out of the hall, the villain 
stood behind a pillar in the gallery, with his cloak on one shoulder, 
having two pistols under his left arm, holding in his right hand a 
paper like a passport, as if to have the Prince sign it. As the 
Prince passed along, having one foot upon the first step of the 
stairs, the traitor, advancing, drew forth one of his pistols so sud- 
denly, that he was not perceived till the blow was given : the three 
bullets, wherewith the pistol was charged, entering in at his left 
side and coming out of the right, through the stomach and vital 
parts. The Prince, feeling himself hurt, said only thus: " O, my 
God, take pity of my soul, I am sore wounded : my God, take 
pity of my soul and of this poor people ;" after which he began to 
stagger, but his gentleman usher supported him, and set him upon 
the stairs. The Countess of Swartzenburg, his sister, asked him if he 
did not recommend his soul to Jesus Christ? he answered " Yes," 
and never spoke a word more, dying in a few minutes after. The 
murderer endeavoured to escape, but being taken and told he was a 
wicked traitor to endeavour to kill the Prince, " 1 am no traitor," 
said he, 66 but have done what the King of Spain commanded me, 
and if I have not slain him cursed be my ill fortune." After this 
he freely confessed the whole matter, and that he had done it by the 
instigation of the Jesuits and the encouragement of the Prince of 
Parma, who assured him of the reward promised to the assassinate 
by the King of Spain. 

For this horrid crime a particular and tremendous sentence was 
pronounced against him by the judges, " That Baltazar Gerrard 
(which he confessed was fois true name) should be laid upon a 
scaffold in the market-place of Delft, to have his right hand, where- 
with he committed that execrable deed, torn with two burning hot 
pincers, and the like to be done in six several parts of his body, as 
his arms, thighs, and several other fleshy parts ; his privy members 
to be cut off, and he to be quartered alive ; to have his heart plucked 
out and thrown in his face ; and, lastly, his head to be cut off, and 
to be set upon a pole upon the watch tower behind the Prince's 
lodgings; his four quarters to be hanged upon gibbets upon the 
four bulwarks of the town." This sentence, said the judges, we 
think fit to pronounce against this wicked murderer, for having (to 
the great grief and sorrow of all good men) committed a most ex,« 

D 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



ecrable crime and abominable treason upon the person of so famous 
and renowned a Prince as the Prince of Orange was, for which he 
ought in no wise to remain unpunished, but rather, with all rigour 
and severity, to be made an example to future ages. 

Having notice of his death, he was at first astonished, cursing 
the hour of his birth, and wishing he had never learned the wicked 
principles of the Jesuits at Dole, but had been still a mean trades- 
man, and not fallen into this folly ; but since it is done, said he, 
there is no remedy, and I must now suffer for it. This dreadful 
sentence was fully executed ; and yet, in all his torments, he never 
cried out, nor seemed to be in any pain : yea, smiled at an accident 
that happened in the midst of his tortures, having often boasted 
that he would not shew the least sign of fear. 

Thus died the renowned William, Prince of Orange, at fifty-one 
years of age. He was of an active spirit and a strong memory, and 
his wisdom, constancy, magnanimity, his courage, patience, and 
labours, were all so extraordinary, that they are rather to be ad- 
mired than described ; a person, in whom concurred a solid judg- 
ment to undertake so great and difficult an enterprize, and an unpa- 
ralleled courage to carry it on, and a very great constancy to finish 
the freedom of his country, against the mighty power of Spain and 
the treacheries of many of his own countrymen ; so that the states 
and people of the Netherlands, who had so often experienced his 
conduct and magnanimity in their most pressing extremities, ad- 
mired his virtues, which scarce ever before met in one person, be- 
wailing him as if no greater loss could have befallen them in this 
world, and solemnized his funeral with all imaginable magnificence, 
that being the last honour they could pay to his glorious memory. 
He had four wives, by whom he had four sons and eight daughters. 

Philip William of Nassau, was eldest son to the great William, 
Prince of Orange, Philip 11. King of Spain, being his godfather, 
who, when his father was compelled to take arms in his own de- 
fence, was a student at the university of Lovain, and was taken 
thence by force, to the infringement of the liberties of the place, not- 
withstanding all the protestations of the rector to the contrary, and 
the complaints of the Prince his father, who publicly exclaimed 
against the cruelty of the Spaniards, since no privilege nor innocence 
of age could secure any from their tyranny and injustice. He was car- 
ried from thence into Spain, at thirteen years of age, and educated 
in the Roman Catholic religion, where he continued a prisoner 
above thirty years* during which his jailor, presuming to speak abu- 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



19 



sively of the proceedings of his father, the Prince, who inherited 
his gallant temper, not enduring his insolent discourse, took him 
round the middle, and throwing him out of the window, broke his 
neck. The King of Spain consulted with his council what punish- 
ment to inflict for this great action ; but, at length, by the inter- 
posing of a generous young Spaniard, who was present, and af- 
firmed that the captain's ill conduct was the occasion of his death, 
it was passed over. 

But at length, in hope to create some jealousies between his bro- 
ther Maurice and himself, King Philip released him and sent him 
into Flanders, where he lived in great state with the Spanish go- 
vernor of the Netherlands, at Brussels, and was employed by that 
King to conduct into the Netherlands his bride and spouse that was 
to be, the infanta Isabella, to whom King Philip had given in dowry 
the sovereignty of the seventeen provinces. This was a very asto- 
nishing policy to all the Netherlands, that the son of a Prince, who 
was so abhorred by the Spaniards, should be chosen for this honour- 
able employment, and caused such a jealousy in the states of the 
United Provinces towards him (the King of Spain having likewise 
restored to him all his estate in the Spanish Low Countries and 
the French Comte,) that they would not allow him to make any 
visit, much less to reside in any of their provinces, though he was 
very desirous so to do ; and though his younger brother, Prince 
Maurice, out of his generous temper, surrendered up all the great 
estate that belonged to Philip, his elder brother, as Breda, and 
other places, yet, to prevent his being suspected by the States Ge- 
neral, he declined seeing hirri in person, rendering his respects to 
him constantly by persons deputed thereunto. He married to Eleo- 
nora Bourbon, sister to the Prince of Conde, and, by matching with 
a Princess of the blood, he was reinstated in his principality of 
Orange, and died, without children, at Brussels, in 1618, leaving 
his inheritance and title to his brother. 

Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange, successor to his father, both 
in conduct, courage, and success, who, being but seventeen years old 
at the death of his father, was yet called to the government, and was 
no ways discouraged at the great successes of Alexander Famese, 
Duke of Parma, who, in a very short time, had reduced several cities 
and towns to the crown of Spain, nor with the insolence of the Earl 
of Leicester, who. at the desire of the States General, was sent by 
Queen Elizabeth to be their governor, though, by his insupport- 
able pride and ambition, he more endamaged the Low Countries, 

n 2 



W THE HISTORY OF THE 

than the succours he brought relieved them, so that for four years 
together, that commonwealth laboured under dreadful convulsions* 
occasioned by the intrigues of the Earl of Leicester and the policies 
of the Spaniards, till at length, by the fortunate and total destruc- 
tion of the nick-named invincible Spanish armada, designed to have 
devoured all England, the Prince of Parma lost all his reputation 
at once : Prince Maurice, about the same time, obliging him, to his 
everlasting shame, to rise and run away from the siege of Bergen 
ap Zoom, and for twenty years after, even till the time of the 
truce, fortune was so favourable to the Prince, that victory seemed 
to attend him, insomuch that he recovered near forty cities and 
many more fortresses, and in three pitched battles defeated the forces 
of the King of Spain, besides the victories his admirals obtained at 
sea upon the coasts of Flanders and Spain. The stratagem by 
which he surprized Breda was very remarkable, for the garrison of 
that town being Italians, and greedy of fuel in that cold country, 
they very readily assisted the boatman to draw his bark of turfs over 
the ice within the castle walls, under which the Prince had laid 
several armed soldiers, who, suddenly starting up, surprized, and 
soon seized the guards, taking possession of the castle, with the 
loss only of one man, though it were an action of such danger and 
importance. Soon after the town of Gertrudenburg was surrendered 
to the Prince in view of the Spanish army, consisting of thirty thou- 
sand men, commanded by Count Mansfield, an experienced gene- 
ral, wIjo could not force the Prince out of his trenches, though he 
daily provoked him, so that Prince Maurice, having sent a trum- 
peter to the Count, he asked him how his master, being a young 
and fiery Prince, could contain himself within his trenches, after 
such fair provocations. The trumpeter replied, that the Prince of 
Nassau was a young Prince, but as old and experienced a general 
as his excellency. 

The next year, the Prince took Groning, the capital city of that 
province : also Rhineburg, Meurs, and Grave, and gained great 
reputation by the defence of Ostend ; for the Spaniards having made 
themselves masters of it, after a siege of three years, with the loss of 
sixty thousand men, and the expense of above a hundred millions of 
treasure, they were possessed of nothing but a heap of ruins, more 
like a burying-place than a city ; and the Prince soon after gained 
Sluce, a place of far greater importance. And at the battle of New- 
port he had such great success against far more numerous forces than 
his own, that the Archduke Albert, with several other persons of 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



quality were wounded ; all the Spaniards' cannon, with above one 
hundred cornets and ensigns falling into the victor's hands, with the 
slaughter of six thousand of the enemy upon the place ; the Prince 
having before the fight sent away all the ships that transported his 
men into Flanders, telling them, that now there was no way to escape, 
but they must either march over the bellies of their enemies, or else 
drink salt water. After several other successes against the Prince of 
Parma, *and other Spanish generals, whereby he raised up the sink- 
ing republic of the united Netherlands, he died in 1625. He was 
never married, and left his titles and large possessions to his younger 
brother, Henry Frederick of Nassau, Prince of Orange, who was 
third son to the renowned William, Prince of Orange ; he was born 
in 1584, and was an excellent general, not in the least degenerating 
from the courage and gallantry of that heroic family, being every 
way equal in fame to his brother, Prince Maurice, taking the famous 
cities of Odousel and Groll, in despite of the Spanish general, who, 
with a numerous army, was not able to relieve it ; nor was he less 
successful at sea, his Vice-admiral Hein taking a fleet of the Spaniards 
near Cuba, in the West Indies, valued at above twenty millions. 
After this, he took Bois le Due, which had withstood all the attempts 
of his brother Maurice, and would not be drawn away till he had 
reduced it, though Count Henry of Bergnes, the Spanish general, 
made an incursion into the province of Utrecht, to divert him ; and 
afterward happily surprized the city of Wessel, where the maga- 
zine of provisions, and all the great artillery of the Spanish army 
were laid up. 

About this time, Count John of Nassau, his kinsman, upon some 
discontent revolting to the Spaniards, was defeated by one of the 
Prince's captains near the Rhine, in the open field, with half his 
number of men, himself being carried prisoner to Wessel, from 
whence he could not be redeemed without the payment of eighteen 
thousand rix dollars; to revenge whicli dishonour, Count John, 
when at liberty, endeavoured with a strong navy of ships to seize 
the town of Williamstadt, but was totally defeated by the Holland- 
ers, and four thousand prisoners taken, and the rest either killed or 
drowned ; he himself and the Prince of Brabancon hardly escaping. 

The States General to testify their gratitude to Henry, Prince of 
Orange, for the great services he had performed, about this time by 
a public edict declared, that all the dignities, honours, and employ- 
ments, which he then enjoyed, shall descend to his eldest son, Prince 
William ; the instruments whereof being drawn up and sealed by 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



the states, were presented to the young Prince in a box of gold. 
After this, Prince Henry continued still more successful, taking the 
towns of Ruremond, Veulo and Strall ; and lastly, undertaking the 
siege of Maestricht, where he surrounded his trenches with such 
strong circumvallations, that both the Spanish and German forces 
were obliged to march away with dishonour, and leave him the 
honour of reducing so important a place. 

Divers other prosperous attempts he made, at his retaking the 
fort of Skink Scans, and regaining the castle and city of Breda, 
which the Marquess Spinola had been a whole year in taking, with 
vast loss and expense, and yet the Prince now reduced it, to his 
immortal honour, in four months, and answerable was his fortune 
at sea, where Admiral Tromp falling upon a numerous fleet of the 
Spaniards in the Downs, of sixty-seven men of war, destroyed the 
greatest part of them to the number of forty ships sunk, wherein 
above seven thousand men were lost, and two thousand carried pri- 
soners into Holland, amongst whom was the great gallion of Portu- 
gal, called Maria Theresa, carrying eight hundred men, whereof not 
one escaped. 

In 1641, Prince William, only son of the Prince of Orange, 
married the Princess Mary, eldest daughter to King Charles I. and 
goon after, Prince Henry gained the strong fort of Hulst, in Flan- 
ders, which the Spaniards were not able to relieve. Thus it may be 
observed, that William, Prince of Orange, laid the foundations of 
the commonwealth of Holland; Prince Maurice, his son, fixed and 
strengthened them by his victories, and Henry Frederick, the younger 
brother, by continuing his conquests and enlarging their territories, 
at length compelled the Spaniard to renounce his pretended ri^ht 
over them, and to acknowledge them an independent state, treating 
with them by the title of the high and mighty States General of the 
united provinces : so that by the swords of the illustrious House of 
Orange, this potent republic was first founded, which is now arrived 
to that grandeur as to send ambassadors upon equal terms with the 
most potent Princes of Christendom, even to the King of Spain him- 
self, whose subjects they were, not above one hundred years, and 
whose revolt had proved a great advantage to that crown, they 
having been so many years a barrier to the Spanish Netherlands 
against the excessive power and ambition of France, which, without 
their assistance had long since swallowed them up. 

Prince Henry married the daughter of John Albert, Count of 
Solms, who came with the Queen of Bohemia into Holland : a lady 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



t>f excellent beauty, modesty, and prudence, by whom he had one 
son and four daughters ; the eldest, named Lovison, was married 
to Frederick William, Prince Elector of Brandenburg, by whom he 
had several children; the second, Henrietta, was married to the 
Count of Nassau; the third, Catherina, was espoused to John 
George, Duke of Anhalt ; the fourth was married to the Duke of 
Simeren ; Prince Henry died March 12, 1647, and was succeeded 
by William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, who was born in 1626 ; a 
Prince of worthy hopes and courage, but was suddenly taken away 
by death in the twenty-fourth year of his age : having been married 
nine years to the Princess Mary, daughter to King Charles I. by whom 
he had Prince William Henry, who was born November 4, 1650 ; 
some few days after his father's death, the Lords States General of 
Holland and Zealand, and of the cities of Delft, Leyden and Amster- 
dam being his godfathers. 

WILLIAM HENRY OF NASSAU, PRINCE OF ORANGE. 

This excellent Prince, our present gracious Sovereign, is endowed 
with all the noble and virtuous qualities of his ancestors of the 
illustrious House of Orange, which seemed designed by heaven to 
be the protectors of religion and liberty for several ages, his Ma- 
jesty's glorious predecessors being the founders and establishes, and 
himself the restorer of the half-ruined Batavian republic, as well as 
the deliverer of these three kingdoms from the utmost danger of 
popery and slavery; this excellent Prince suffered many affronts 
by Barnevel's party, revived in the persons of the De Witt's, ex- 
pecting with inimitable patience, the advancement to those honours 
and dignities which of right belonged to his family, and which, by 
the decree of a prevailing faction, he was deprived of presently 
after the death of his father. 

But King Lewis, his inveterate enemy, did, accidentally, very 
much contribute to his exaltation ; for, having in 1672 like a rapid 
torrent over-run the flourishing Batavian republic, he thereby gave 
opportunity to the Prince to discover to the world the spirit of his 
ancestors, in recovering the united provinces from the ruin which 
seemed to attend them by the success of that King, even beyond his 
hopes, nay, almost his wishes : which put that people into such a 
consternation, as occasioned them to complain of the unhappy con- 
duct of Cornelius and John De Witt, who had then the sole manage- 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



ment of all affairs, and to believe that none but the glorious House 
of Nassau was capable to support their tottering state in this age 
against their potent French enemies, as they had formerly rescued 
them from the tyranny of Spain. 

Neither was the grandmother of the Prince wanting to engage the 
favourers of that family to endeavour to remove that eclipse, under 
which it had so long suffered, which her Highness managed with a 
courage and magnanimity above her sex, so that, being awakened 
by her remonstrances, they began to consider how they themselves 
had of late been slighted and neglected, whilst all the great employ- 
ments of the commonwealth were bestowed upon the sons of burgo- 
masters, and being seconded by the rage of the commonalty, who were, 
dreadfully terrified to see a victorious army in the very bowels of their 
country, they obliged the States General, in the beginning of 1672, 
to depute Monsieur Beverning, John De Witt, and Jasper Fagel, to 
invest his Highness the Prince of Orange in the dignities belonging 
to his ancestors, of captain, and admiral-general of the united pro- 
vinces, who, having accepted the same, and taken his oath, pre- 
sently went upon action against the French ; but the province of 
Holland still suspected the fidelity of their magistrates, seeing their 
frontier towns and garrisons fall daily into the hands of their vic- 
torious enemies, and at Dort they raised a dangerous mutiny, and 
resolved that his Highness the Prince of Orange should be advanced 
to the stadtholdership also, as judging it absolutely necessary for 
the public good; upon which, an act was instantly drawn up, and 
read in the public hall by the secretary, wherein the magistrates 
declared his Highness the Prince of Orange, stadtholder, captain, 
and admiral-general of all their forces by sea and land, with the 
same power and authority that his ancestors of glorious memory had 
formerly enjoyed ; which occasioned great rejoicing in that city. 

But Cornelius de Witt, an ancient burgomaster of the town, re- 
turning at the same time indisposed from the fleet, and being de- 
sired to sign the act, replied, 44 He would never do it ;" nor could 
all the persuasions of his friends, nor the menaces of the multitude, 
who were ready to break into his house, nor the tears of his wife, 
who was sensible of his danger, prevail upon his obstinate temper, 
till she threatened to shew herself to the people and declare her own 
and children's innocency, and abandon him to the fury of the ungo- 
verned populace, which soon after occasioned his tragical death ; for 
they being fully persuaded that he and his brother John were real 
enemies to the Prince, and a certain surgeon having charged Cor~ 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



2b 



nelius that he had made a private proposal to him to take away his 
Highness's life, he was thereupon imprisoned, and, upon trial, was 
sentenced to forfeit all his dignities and employments, and to be 
for ever banished out of the territories of Holland and West Frieze- 
land. 

The people, who accounted the Prince to be their protector and de- 
liverer, believed his judges to be partial in punishing so great a crime 
with so easy a judgment, and the trained bands at the Hague being in 
arms, they presently ran to the prison, where, while they were got to- 
gether, it happened that John De Witt came in his coach to fetch his 
brother out of prison : upon which, one of the burgesses cried out, 
" Now the two traitors are got together, and it is our fault if they 
escape us." This had been enough to inflame the multitude, but 
a greater motive happened : for while they were all expecting the 
coming down of the two De Witts, an unhappy report was raised, 
that above a thousand peasants and fishermen were upon their march 
to plunder the Hague, upon which, another burgher cried out, " Come, 
gentlemen, let us pull these traitors out by the ears, do but follow 
me, and I will lead the way." These words, with their great affec- 
tion to their Prince, and the ruin of their country, to both which, 
they accounted the De Witts to be the greatest enemies, completed 
their rage, so that they immediately broke open the prison doors, 
and forced down the two brothers into the street, w r here they were 
soon dispatched by the multitude, who after they had laid the pen- 
sionary John De Witt sprawling on the ground, cried out, "See 
there the traitor that has betrayed his country." Thus fell John, 
and Cornelius De Witt, two violent enemies to the House of Orange. 
It is said, that John was the contriver of those acts, whereby his 
Highness was secluded from all the great employments which were 
due to him from his predecessors, and that a certain ambassador 
being in private discourse with him, said, "Most illustrious sir, I 
have heard much of your singular prudence, and unwearied dili^ 
gence, but far less than what I now observe ; from whence, 1 dare 
assuredly pronounce, that either you will be the ruin of the Prince, 
or else, that one day for his sake, you will come to destruction." It 
is likewise reported, that when he was a youth of about eighteen 
years old, a certain advocate being desired by his father to examine 
him, gave this account of him : " That he found in him those great 
parts, and that ripeness of wit, which was rarely to be seen in 
others ; and afterwards, when he was made pensioner of Holland 
and Dort, the same advocate presaged of him, " That he would 

E 



» 



m THE MSTO&Y OF THE 

never die a natural' death." " Thus," saith a worthy person, " ended 
one of the greatest lives of any subject of our times, in the forty- 
seventh year of his age, after having' administered in that state as 
pensioner of Holland for about eighteen years, with great honour to 
his country and himself. 

It must be remarked that the present war with the States General 
was commenced in concert between the French King and Charles II. 
in a time of the greatest peace and security on the Dutch side ; so 
that, when the English fell upon their Smyrna fleet, no clap of 
thunder in a frosty morning could be more surprising, both to the 
Hollanders, and the rest of Christendom : yea, the court of France 
itself could scarce believe that we would run so great an adventure, 
though our court had 5 obliged themselves thereto, and though, in 
the declaration of war, which the King published, the Dutch are 
charged with making abusive pictures, and denying the right of the 
flag, which was an undoubted prerogative of the crown ©f England ; 
yet, the parliament and people were of opinion, that tfti$ war was 
made in pursuance of the instructions of the French King, sent over 
to Dover by the Duchess of Orleans ; whereby the destruction of 
the commonwealth of Holland is declared to be the only means to 
settle arbitrary government and popery in these three nations. 

Upon our declaration of war, the French King began to march 
with his vast army into the Netherlands, which he over-ran with 
such a rapid motion, that the people were astonished, and the states 
knew not what course to take to prevent it, which occasioned those 
commotions aforementioned ; but his Highness the Prince of Orange 
Being advanced to the Stadtholdership, the face of affairs began to 
alter, and their courage was revived. Monsieur Fagel succeeded 
D'e Witt as pensioner, and the Prince presently resolved to be upon 
a«tio"n\ rejecting all the applications made to him by the two Kings, 
of making him sovereign of the provinces^ with such disdain and 
greatness of soul, as is scarce to be matched, always declaring, 
* & That he would never betray a trust that was given him, nor ever 
sell the liberties' of his country that his ancestors had so long de^ 
fended. 

In pursuance of this generous resolution, his- Highness took the 
command of the army upon him, who were more animated at the 
thoughts of being under the conduct of so gallant a general : so that 
at Bbdegrave, a handful of men twice repulsed above five thousand 
of the French from the walls of Ardenburg ; and, besides the slain, 
Kooft five hundred prisoners^ with several commanders, and persons 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



of quality, through the extraordinary valour of no more than two 
hundred burghers and one hundred garrison soldiers, only that they 
were assisted by the women and children, the women tilling the 
bandileers, and the children brought bullets to their parents. 

Soon after the siege of Groningen, which had been besieged with 
near three thousand men, by the Bishop of Munster, was, by the 
courage of the citizens, raised, with the loss of half the enemy's 
army, and a prodigious quantity of ammunition spent in vain, in 
reducing thereof ; to which, his Highness's care, in furnishing them 
with all necessaries for defence, was highly contributing. 

About the same time, the Prince resolving to dislodge the out- 
guards of the French, gave a strong alarm to them, and without 
moving from his saddle all night, drove them to their trenches, 
before Utrecht, and carried several lords prisoners to Amsterdam. 
His Highness then resolved to attempt the reducing of Woerden, 
and, after a bloody and obstinate fight, wherein above two thousand 
of the French were slain, and not above seven hundred of the 
Dutch. His Highness finding the garrison relieved with such a 
numerous supply, drew off his men, and retreated to his quarters. 
After which, was held a council of war, of the principal officers of 
the army, which being ended, a certain colonel would needs be 
impertinently inquisitive of the Prince, to know what was his great 
design against the French at that time ; his Highness demanded of 
him, whether he would discover to any other what he should declare 
to him ? The colonel said, "No, he would not :" " Then," said the 
Prince, u my tongue is also endued from heaven with the same 
grace;" an answer becoming the wisdom of a Prince, and the re* 
servedness of a great commander. 

His Highness being with the army at Maestricht, sent out a party 
to reduce the strong castle of Walcheren, which was soon surren- 
dered with a great quantity of wheat and other provisions. During 
this time, the Duke of Luxemburg, with fourteen thousand horse 
and foot, resolved to invade the province of Holland, in hope to 
plunder Leyden and the Hague, and marched from Woerden over 
the ice with three thousand five hundred of the lightest of the in- 
fantry, of which attempt his Highness having notice, marched with 
all speed toward the French, who, in the mean time had taken 
Swamerdam, and by the retiring of Colonel Paine Vin from his post 
at Niewerbroug, had a free passage opened for their retreat, who 
must also have perished in the waters, or surrendered by reason of 
the sudden thaw; the Duke himself was like to have been lost by a 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



fall into the thawed water, losing in this slippery expedition, abov® 
six hundred of his best soldiers. The French committed horrid 
ravages at Swamerdam, ravishing women, stripping and wounding 
the aged and decrepit, and throwing infants that smiled in their 
faces, into the fire. - 

And now the strong city of Coverden, the key of the provinces of 
Friezeland and Groning, which in that fatal year, 1672, fell into 
the hands of the Bishop of Munster, with great loss of men and a 
long siege, was retaken in an hour, and not above sixty men slain, 
and of the enemy, one hundred and fifty killed, and four hundred 
and^thirty prisoners ; it was furnished by the Bishop with a prodi- 
gious quantity of warlike ammunition. This success highly en- 
couraged the Dutch, and so surprized the enemy, that they instantly 
quitted several other garrisons, and much advanced the* honour of 
the Prince, to whose prudent management of affairs, they attributed 
this happy alteration in the fortune of their country ; which his 
Highness likewise extended to pacify the dissention between the old 
and new magistrates of Friezeland, who acted contrary to each 
other : but upon his Highness appearing in their assembly, all dis- 
cords vanished, and all things were settled for the defence of the 
Netherlands, by his visiting the frontier fortifications of Flushing, 
Sluce, Ardenburg, (where the keys of the town were delivered him 
in a silver basin by the young virgins of that city, decked with gar- 
lands of several flowers) and several other strong places. 

In 1673, the Dutch were hotly assailed, on the one side by the 
French King, with a puissant army, while Conde and Luxemburg- 
lay at Utrecht with powerful forces, to watch an opportunity to 
invade the very centre of their territories ; and by sea, the King of 
England vigorously attacked them with his own and the French 
fleet, so that the Prince of Orange was obliged not to stir abroad, 
but to observe their designs, and prevent the threatened descent of 
the English. In May, the King of France, with an army of forty- 
two thousand men sat down before Maestricht, the garrison con- 
sisted of about four thousand foot, and nine hundred horse, under 
Monsieur Farieux, a resolute and experienced commander, as ap- 
peared by the stout resistance he made against this mighty force ; so 
that, though the French gained the place, yet it was with such a 
deluge of blood, no less than nine thousand of their bravest soldiers 
being slain in the siege, with an incredible number of his choicest 
officers, that the purchase was sufficiently dear; and, after three 
weeks valiant defence, with the loss of half the garrison by innume- 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



rable assaults, batteries, and storming* of fresh assailants night and 
day. The courageous governor would still have held it out, had 
not the petitions of the magistrates and ecclesiastics obliged him to 
surrender, of whose worthy conduct the Prince of Orange was so 
well satisfied, that he instantly preferred him to be Major- General 
of the army ; and the French King was so mortified, that when he 
had taken the town, he broke up his army and returned to Paris, 
sending part of them to Turrenne, to enable him to harass the 
country of Treves, because that Elector had assisted the Emperor 
against him. 

The French army being thus dispersed, and the English fleet, 
since the engagement of May 28 (wherein both sides claimed the 
victory,) being retired from the coast of Holland, his Highness, 
now more at liberty, resolved not to lie still, so that calling off his 
forces, which lay for the defence of Zealand, to join with the rest 
of the army, he sat down before Naerden with twenty-five thou- 
sand men, upon which the Duke of Luxemburg, with ten thousand 
and four regiments of Munster horse, advanced within view of the 
Prince's entrenchments, but not daring to attempt the relief , of the 
town; the Prince, after three hours resistance, beat the French 
from their works, and forced them to retire in great confusion into 
the city, and the next day they surrendered it up. The garrison 
marching out, the governor made a profound reverence to the 
Prince, and, it is said, assured him, " That he had reason suffi- 
cient to surrender the town so soon ;" but it seems the King did 
not think them so, for he was condemned to perpetual imprison- 
ment,, and had his sword broken over his head at Utrecht, for the 
garrison consisted of near three thousand men, and wanted neither 
ammunition nor provisions, and the French had much strengthened 
the fortifications, yet the Prince took it in four days, and lost not 
above a hundred men, and two hundred wounded. 

And now his Highness, to avoid so many sieges as the towns they 
had lost would cost to recover, resolved upon a gallant action, the 
boldness of which amazed all men, but the success extolled the pru- 
dence, as well as the bravery of it ; for the King of Spain and the 
Emperor having joined in a confederacy with the States General for 
mutual defence against the French, as the common enemy of both, 
the Prince, that he might perform something remarkable before the 
approaching winter, marched directly, with his army, out of the 
Netherlands, and joining with the confederates, he resolved to be- 
siege Bonne, which had been put into the hands of the French the 



m 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



beginning of the war, wherein the Elector of Cologne and the Bishop 
of Munster had entered jointly with France . It had a garrison of 
two thousand men, and was well furnished with all provisions, and 
eighty great guns mounted on their walls and bulwarks. The Mar- 
shal de Humieres, with seven thousand horse, faced the Leaguer, 
but durst not venture to succour it ; so that the confederates, having 
finished their batteries and brought three mines to perfection, pre- 
pared for a general storm : but willing to save their men, sent a 
summons to the governor to surrender the town, since they were 
without relief, and, if they pleased, might send out some to see 
what mines were ready to play upon their refusal, which would be 
followed by putting to the sword all in arms, if taken by storm. 
This so affrighted them that the next day they capitulated, and 
fifteen hundred French marched out of the town, the rest being 
either dead or wounded. 

This successful expedition of his Highness put the French into 
such a consternation to see the reverse of their fortune, that they 
who lately, with insulting pride, threatened the ruin of others, were 
now at their wit's end to save themselves ; so that, upon the loss of 
so many men as had lately died by sickness and the sword, they 
were compelled to abandon all their conquests in the Netherlands 
in less time than they gained them, retaining only Maestricht and the 
Grave, of all they lately possessed belonging to this republic. Woer- 
den was the first that felt their tyranny and was first evacuated, but 
the Duke of Luxemburg extorted sixteen thousand livres of them, 
to save the town from burning, by the King's order. J larder wick 
paid twelve thousand livres ; Creveceur three thousand pistoles; 
Bommel, a strong fortress, on which the King of France had be- 
stowed sixty thousand livres, gave hostages to pay thirty-six thou- 
sand livres to spare their houses, Utrecht was obliged to give an 
hundred thousand crowns; and the French all departing in one 
day, the burgomasters absolved each other 4 *rom their oaths which 
they had taken against the restoration of his Highness the Prince of 
Orange, to whom they sent their deputies to acknowledge him their 
Stadtholder, in the name of the whole province of Utrecht. Thus 
his Highness may, in some sense, seem to have outdone Caesar hini- 
self. for he vanquished even where he neither saw nor came, but 
only by the terror of his arms and victories. In consideration of 
this happy turn of affairs, occasioned by the prudence and conduct 
of his Highness, the States General, in February following, pub- 
lished a decree to declare their gratitude, confirming the charge of 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



SI 



Stadtholder of the province of Holland and West Friezeland on the 
person of his Highness daring life, and also on the heirs male of his 
body, as a standing monument of his surpassing merits ; and that 
very day the states of Zealand likewise conferred the same dignities 
upon his Highness^ and made him withal hereditary noble of theiT 
province. 

In the beginning of the year 1674, the parliament and people of 
England being weary of the war with Holland, which was entered 
into without their consent or liking. Were very desirous of a peace ; 
so that the French court party, having little hope of wheedling the 
House of Commons to give any more money to carry on their black 
designs against the religion and liberties of the nation, under the 
pretence of this war, they were obliged to make a separate peace 
with the Dutch, exclusive of the French King, though, to their 
great regret, that they were forced to abandon their dear ally, from 
whom- they had drawn such great sums of money for secret service. 
Upon the strength and heart of this peace, his Highness, the Prince 
of Orange, concerted with the German and Spanish troops to begin 
an offensive war; and, at the head of an army of forty thousand 
men, to march into France. In pursuance hereof, the three armies 
being joined, arrived at Nivelle the beginning of August, 1674, 
where they continued for some days • but finding the" Prince of 
Conde, who lay not far off, encamped with an army of fifty thou- 
sand, unwilling to come forth and hazard a battle in the open field, 
they endeavoured, by all ways imaginable, to provoke and draw 
him out of his trenches: but all proving ineffectual, they resolved 
to besiege some place of importance, believing that Conde would 
endeavour to relieve it ; whereupon his Highness marched from Se- 
neffe toward Brinch, General Souches, With the imperial forces, 
leading the van. Count Waldeck commanded the main battle with 
the Holland army, and Count de Montere}^ the rear with the Spa- 
niards; the Prince of Orange commanded the whole confederate 
army. 

The Prince of Conde having notice of their movement, and being 
sensible of the difficulty and straitness of the passages, put his men 
in order, and letting the van-guard pass, and the greatest part of 
the main body some leagues before, he then fell in upon the rear- 
guard of the Spanish horse and dragoons, consisting of four thou- 
sand, commanded by the Prince de Vaudemont, and broke them 
with great slaughter, and not much resistance, taking* several pri- 
soners of quality, with the bag*gage, which the Prince of Orange 



32 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



having notice of, he sent three battalions of infantry to their relief. 
Conde, warmed with success, drew his whole army out of their 
trenches, and fell with much fury upon the Dutch squadron, break- 
ing them to pieces, killing or taking all their commanders, and 
gaining several standards : and here his Highness the Prince of 
Orange gave particular testimonies of his undaunted bravery, 
throwing himself, with his sword in his hand, before the daunted fu- 
gitives, endeavouring, by all means imaginable, to stop their flight, 
and by his own example, encouraged them to renew the battle, so 
that he was often in danger either of being slain or taken prisoner ; 
but at length his Highness joining the rest of the Dutch, who stood 
firm, whom he made the right wing, with the Imperialists and Spa- 
niards on the left, the fight was renewed with more fury and vigour 
than ever, both armies being animated with the hope of victory, 
and seeming equally resolved rather to die than be overcome. 
His Highness omitted no pains upon this important occasion, so 
animating his soldiers, that they strove, with emulation, to outdo 
one another, and both armies fought till night, with an obstinacy 
on both sides hardly to be paralleled, though the fields were all 
strewn over with the bodies of the slain and wounded, while the 
combatants, covered with blood and sweat, encouraged each other 
the more by that dismal spectacle. Thus the fury of the French, 
which at first carried all before them, about ten o'clock at night be- 
gan to abate ; the French infantry, of which they had lost a consi- 
derable part, drawing off at a distance, notwithstanding all the en- 
deavours of the Prince of Conde to have brought them back again, 
who thereupon fearing some farther mischief might befal his army, 
ordered the horse also to retire, leaving the victory by this means 
to his Highness the Prince of Orange, who, two hours after the re- 
treat of the French, drew off his army likewise to their appointed 
quarters. 

Thus ended this bloody battle, wherein, at first, the French pre- 
vailed, but at length lost the victory, having seven thousand men 
slain outright, besides the wounded, of whom the Prince of Conde 
left above fifteen hundred in .the villages about his quarters at Pieton. 
On the confederates' side, the slain, wounded, and deserters, amounted 
to about six thousand five hundred in all. It was said that a letter 
was intercepted from the Prince of Conde to the French King, 
giving him an account, " That upon a general review of his army, 
he found himself but in an ill condition, having lost the flower of 
his infantry and the best part of his horse, and therefore did not 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



33 



think himself strong enough to venture a second battle:" having 
likewise lost a great number of officers and persons of quality, and 
several standards, among which was one called the white standard of 
France (which was afterward hung up with great solemnity in the 
church of the Carmelites at Brussels, richly embroidered with gold 
and silver, with a sun in the middle passing through the zodiac, 
with this haughty motto, " Nil obstabit eunti;" nothing can stop 
his course. But the principal honour of this victory ought, next 
under God, to be ascribed to his Highness the Prince of Orange, of 
whom General Souches gives the following account in a letter to the 
States General, 

" 1 have endeavoured to discharge my duty in attending his 
Highness the Prince of Orange, during the bloody and famous 
battle between the confederate army and that of the Christian King, 
the happy issue of which has proved so much to the glory of the 
Prince of Orange, who shewed, upon that occasion, the prudence 
of an aged captain, the courage of a Caesar, and the undaunted 
bravery of a Marius, all which, my Lords, I speak without flattery, 
as being contrary to my nature." And as the friends, so the ene- 
mies of his Highness agreed to give him equal glory for this adven- 
ture, the Prince of Conde himself declaring, ;; That he had done 
in all things like an old captain, but only in venturing himself too 
much like a young man;" though this old general had done the 
same in this day's action, charging into the thickest troops like a 
young cavalier. 

The next day after the fight his Highness marched, with his 
whole army, near Mons, and took up his head-quarters at St. Gi- 
laine, till they had recovered their disorders in the late battle, and 
then began to think of further action. At length it was concluded 
to besiege Oudenard, to draw the Prince of Conde out of his cau- 
tious marches to relieve it. The confederates made, their approaches 
to the town, and were already masters of the counterscarp, when 
Conde decamped from Beumont, with his whole army of forty 
thousand men, either to relieve or give the confederates battle. His 
Highness advised that they should immediately fall upon the enemy, 
weary and tired with a long march, but General Souches prevented 
the execution of this magnanimous resolution; for instead of ranging 
his men in battalia, he crossed the river in so much haste that he 
left some pieces of cannon behind him, and thereby left a way open 
for the Prince of Conde to enter the town with part of his army, 
who, thinking he had done enough in relieving it, avoided coming 

F 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



to a battle ; so that his Highness, finding no more good to be done, 
resolved to march back to Grave, where his presence would be more 
necessary, leaving Count Waldeck the command of the army in his 
absence. The siege of this place had been undertaken sometime 
before by General Rabenhaupt : the garrison consisted of four thou- 
sand foot and nine hundred horse, of which the Marquis of Cha- 
milly, a valiant and expert captain, was governor, wherein were 
four hundred and fifty pieces of cannon, of which one hundred were 
mounted upon the bulwarks, besides a vast quantity of powder, 
corn, grenadoes, and all manner of warlike ammunition, for the 
French had made a magazine there of all that they had brought 
away from their deserted conquests. Rabenhaupt sat down before 
it with about twenty regiments of foot and some horse, and was 
afterwards reinforced by the troops of the Prince of Courland and 
the Elector of Brandenburgh, who summoned the city on every side, 
assaulting it with much violence, but was as vigorously defended 
by those within, though they were reduced to drink water. His 
Highness arrived there on the 9th of October, 'with sixty cornets of 
horse, whose presence revived the courage of the besiegers : yet the 
French held out till the 25th, when Chamilly, finding such large 
breaches made in the fortifications, much widened by the fortunate 
blowing up of a mine, which almost destroyed a covert way, so 
that it was impossible for him to hold out against the general storm 
designed the next day, he surrendered the town upon honourable 
articles. 

The following winter was spent in preparing for an early campaign 
the next year, 1675, in the beginning whereof the Hollanders made 
grateful acknowledgments to his Highness the Prince of Orange, 
for his signal conduct and services in redeeming them from the cala- 
mities which they had suffered under a cruel foreign enemy, offering 
him the title of Duke of Guelderland ; but to convince the world of 
the sincerity of his intentions, and how little ambitious he was to ag- 
grandize himself by the war, his Highness refused those honours ; 
but being at the same time offered the command of Governor Here- 
ditary of the same province, he readily accepted it, and in the ma- 
nagement thereof discovered his excellent prudence in civil as well 
as military affairs. 

But whilst his Highness was intent to oppose the designs of the 
French for the ruin of his country, he was visited with the small- 
pox, which struck a great damp to the progress of affairs, and was 
the more lamented, as having proved fatal to his family in the per- 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



35 



sons of his father, mother, and his uncle the Duke of Gloucester; 
but it pleased God that by the care and skill of an able physician, and 
certain peculiar remedies sent him by the Duke of Brandenburgh^ 
his Highness recovered, and within twenty days was abroad again, and 
hastened to the general rendezvous of his army at Rosendael, in order 
to the relief of Limburg, then besieged by the Marquis of Roche- 
fort ; the King of France, with an army under the. Prince of Conde, 
posting himself advantageously for covering the siege; but such 
was the slowness of the Germans, and the weakness and disorder of 
the Spanish troops, that the besieged, having little hopes of relief 
and unable to oppose the great numbers of the French troops, sur- 
rendered sooner than was expected ; after which, having wasted a 
great part of the adjoining country, the King returned to Paris, 
being prevented from doing farther mischief by the diligence of his 
Highness and the Duke de Villa Hermosa. 

Soon after, the great General Turenne being killed by a cannon 
bullet in Alsatia, the Prince of Conde was sent thither as general, 
and the Count de Montmorency was left to command the French 
army, who though a captain no less wary than his predecessor, yet 
his Highness kept him so upon his guard, that he could not disturb 
the siege of Treves, which, after the fatal overthrow of Monsieur 
Crequi, fell into the hands of the imperialists ; so that Montmorency 
was unwilling to hazard a battle with the Prince, after two such 
great losses, for fear of a third ; insomuch that he suffered Binch to 
surrender to his Highness at discretion, it being a garrison of three 
hundred and fifty men, and had great quantities of provisions, even 
in the sight of his army; but it appeared afterward the Count had 
positive orders not to engage the confederates, so that his Highness, 
finding winter approaching, broke up his army and returned to the 
Hague. 

The King of France at this time seemed very desirous of peace, 
his subjects being wearied and ruined with the charge of the war, 
and several Princes offered to interpose in the matter, and the King 
of England continuing still in the French interests, seemed very 
zealous therein, and took upon him to be a mediator between that 
King and his enemies. At length, in 1676, a treaty was begun at 
Nimegen, whither the plenipotentiaries from all parts repaired as 
to the general rendezvous ; but the preparations for war went on as 
vigorously as ever, and his Highness was thoroughly employed to 
get his army ready early in the spring, considering the formidable 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



musters the French made under Marshal Crequi, near Charleville § 
and Marshal d'Humieres having got together a body of fifteen thou- 
sand men, fell into the country of Aloft, and the Spaniards "being 
too weak to resist him, put all the country under contribution. 
Hereupon his Highness marched with all speed to join the Duke of 
Villa Hermosa, at Cambron, which he did on the 26th of April ; 
but before this Marshal Crequi had surrounded the city of Conde 
with sixteen thousand men, and the King of France and the Duke 
of Orleans, upon notice thereof, joined him with ten thousand more, 
who incessantly battered the town four days together with much 
fury, insomuch that they were forced to surrender at discretion, 
though his Highness was marched as far as Granville for their re- 
lief. After this the King of France sent the Duke of Orleans to be- 
siege Bouchain with some of his troops, it being a strong fortress of 
considerable consequence, the King posting his army so as to hinder 
the Prince from relieving it ; but his Highness, struggling through 
all difficulties of the season, and want of provisions and magazines 
in Flanders, marched with his army in view of the French King-, 
facing him several days together, and was at length resolved to 
have attacked him with a detachment of twelve thousand men, and 
to endeavour to have relieved the town, but understanding the place 
was taken he altered his resolution ; nor would his Highness stir till 
the French King first decamped, leaving to the Prince the honour 
of having dared the whole power and fortune of France, so that if 
the confederates lost a small town, the French lost the greater ho- 
nour of accepting so brave a challenge. 

The King of France returning home, and leaving his army under 
the command of Marshal Schomberg, his Highness concluded with 
the Spaniards, and the German Princes of the Lower Rhine, to set 
down before Maestricht, which, though strong before, yet had been 
extremely fortified since possessed by the French, and had now a 
garrison of eight thousand choice men, under Calvo, a resolute 
Catalonian; to divert this siege, Schomberg sent the Marshal de 
Humieres, with fifteen thousand men, to besiege Aire, a city in the 
province of Artois, and strongly encompassed on three sides by a 
marsh, the only way to approach it being defended by a strong fort, 
with five bastions and a mpat; but the fort not having men sufficient 
to defend it against the great numbers of the French, who, likewise 
threw bombs incessantly into the town, and fired the houses ; the 
townsmen grew so impatient that they beat a parley, and the articles 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



were soon agreed by the French, because they heard the Duke of 
Villa Hermosa was coming to relieve it, and the governor was 
forced to surrender the town. 

His Highness continued the siege of Maestricht all this while with 
much vigour, and the latter end of J uly the trenches were opened, 
his Highness assigning to every one their quarters ; and among the 
rest, the English under three colonels, Fenwick, Widdrington, and 
Ashly, consisting of two thousand five hundred men, besides re- 
formades and volunteers ; who presented a petition to his Highness, 
wherein they numbly desired, " That all of their nation might be 
assigned a particular quarter, and be commanded apart; that if they 
behaved themselves like men, they might have the honour due to 
their courage, but if they did ill, that they only might bear the dis- 
grace of their cowardice ; there being no reason they should suffer 
for the miscarriages of others." The Prince readily granted their 
request, and ordered them a separate post under Fenwick, the eldest 
colonel, and they accordingly signalized their valour during the 
siege : which was carried on with the utmost conduct and resolution, 
his Highness continually animating his soldiers by his presence, and 
teaching them by his example to contemn danger. Many of the out- 
works were taken with great slaughter on both sides, but were 
again supplied by the unwearied industry of the besieged ; in one of 
these assaults, his Highness, who continually exposed his person, 
received a musket-shot in the arm, but to prevent his men from 
being discouraged, he plucked off his hat with the same arm, and 
waved it about his head. But the confederate army being weakened 
both by sickness and the many attacks against the town, and the 
Germans not bringing in their promised supplies, a council of war 
w r as called, in the Prince's camp, and their being advice, that Mon- 
sieur Schomberg was coming with all the French forces for the relief 
of the town, it was concluded to raise the siege : and so this cam- 
paign ended without success, occasioned by the weakness of the 
Spaniards, and the uncertainty of the German councils ; and soon 
after, his Highness finding that Schomberg was satisfied with reliev- 
ing Maestricht, and not to be brought to a battle, he returned back 
to the Hague, where, in a general assembly of the states, he gave 
an account of the summer's expedition, so much to their satisfaction, 
that he received their congratulations, and new returns of thanks 
for the many toils, hardships, and dangers, to which he had exposed 
his person for the preservation of his country. In September follow- 
ing, his Highness received an account, that the imperial arnry had 



38 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



taken Philipsburg, for want of being well provided, which was as 
unexpected as the raising of the siege of Maestricht. 

The following winter was spent in treating for the peace at Nime- 
gen, which the common people of Holland were very desirous of, the 
war being a great hindrance to their trade ; but the French insisted 
upon such high terms, that his Highness opposed it to the utmost, 
though King Charles II. was still very earnest to bring his dear ally 
out of his troubles ; but still the French pursued the war with their 
usual application ; for, in February, 1677, though it were in the 
depth of winter, their forces marched into the Spanish Netherlands, 
and having provided sufficient magazines, they in a manner blocked 
up Valenciennes, Cambray, and St. Omers, at a distance, giving 
out, they would be masters of two, if not three places, before the 
confederates could take the field. The French, at the same time, 
broke into Germany on the other side the Rhine, ravaging, burning, 
and ruining these countries, with a barbarity peculiar to the most 
christian King ; soon after, the city of Valenciennes was surrounded 
with an army of forty or fifty thousand men, under the Duke of 
Luxemburg, wherein was a garrison of two thousand foot, and one 
thousand horse and dragoons, and the French King being arrived in 
the camp, commanded that the besieged should be kept awake all 
night, by flinging bombs, grenades, and fire-pots into the town, 
and the next morning, when they were tired with the night's toil, 
and gone to their repose, so that few were left to guard the works, 
the assailants carried all before them, and turned the great guns 
upon the town ; which so terrified the besieged, that they presently 
surrendered at discretion. 

Animated with this success, the French King immediately sat 
down before Cambray, a town of great trade, and had been in the 
Spaniards' hands about eighty years ; it had a garrison of one thou- 
sand four hundred horse, and four regiments of foot, and after a few 
day's siege, this city was, like the other Spanish towns, surrendered 
upon articles ; and at the same time, St. Omers was besieged by the 
Duke of Orleans, with a very great army ; the news of this sudden 
progress of the French so alarmed all the Netherlands, that his 
Highness the Prince of Orange was resolved to take the field, the 
Dutch having received their payments from Spain, and concluded 
to continue the war another campaign, being brought to this resolu- 
tion by the vigour and courage of his Highness, who had begun to 
prepare his troops to march upon the first motion of the French ; but 
by the usual delays and neglects of the Spaniards, though the Prince 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



used the utmost diligence and application, yet he could not arrive 
soon enough to succour Valenciennes and Cambraj^ ; but was now 
resolved to venture a battle to endeavour the relief of St. Omers : 
at Mount Cassal both armies met, where, after a sharp encounter, 
wherein his Highness shewed the utmost bravery, the French them- 
selves confessing, that the Prince that day withstood no less than 
thirty-nine battalions of foot, and an hundred squadrons of horse, 
he made such an honourable retreat, as wanted little of a victory, 
which was occasioned by the plain flight of his men, whom he was 
forced to resist like enemies ; of which, the States General were so 
sensible, that in answer to his letter, wherein his Highness gave 
them an account "of what had passed, they sent him another, return- 
ing their unfeigned thanks to his Highness, for his indefatigable 
pains and care, not sparing his own person ; of which they besought 
him to be more tender for the future, considering the great impor- 
tance thereof, for the preservation of his country. After this, fol- 
lowed the surrender of the citadel of Cambray, which had held out till 
now, though the town was taken; and likewise St. Omers, which, 
after a vigorous resistance, wherein the French lost many consider- 
able officers, was surrendered upon articles. 

After this, the French King returned to Paris, leaving Crequi to 
oppose the Duke of Lorrain ; and Luxemburg to observe the mo- 
tions of the Prince of Orange, who, July 23, 1677, having recruited 
his own army, and received several auxiliary supplies from the Ger- 
man princes, marched in at the head of them) (for the confederates had 
all submitted to his conduct,) from Alost to attack the French, lying 
under the walls of Aeth, but finding Luxemburg so advantageously 
posted between two rivers, that he could not be forced to a battle, 
he marched to Charleroy, and instantly beleaguered that town, 
which had a garrison of four or five thousand French, under the 
command of Count Montal, who, mistrusting the design, had fur- 
nished it with all manner of ammunition and provision, and such a 
number of great guns, that he had sent away a great part of them ; 
the Duke of Luxemburg hearing his Highness was sat down before 
the city, drained all the garisons of the French conquests, and 
having made up a body of forty thousand men, posted himself so 
strongly, having a wood upon his right wing, and a river before 
him, that there was no forcing his trenches, neither could the con- 
federates fetch any forage from the country beyond the Sambre, 
from whence they used to be supplied ; all which his Highness con- 
sidering, drew off and marched to Sembreef, thereby to preserve his 



40 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



army, wherein consisted the safety of his country ; though no man 
was ever more daring when there was any probability of prevailing. 
His Highness finding, the French were resolved not to come to a 
battle, but to be upon the defensive, and secure what they had 
gotten, leaving the army near Brussels under Count Waldeck, re- 
turned to the Hague, and had the thanks of the states returned him 
a second time for his weary and prudent conduct. 

In October this year, his Highness went over into England, at 
the invitation of King Charles, in hopes that his presence would 
much contribute to a general peace between France and the con- 
federates, which the King seemed very solicitous to have concluded, 
by the instigation, as it was thought, of the French court, who were 
willing to put an end to the war for the present ; the Prince, 
October 19, arrived at Harwich, and went post to Newmarket, 
where the court then was, which in two or three days returned to 
Whitehall; where his Highness having a sight of the Princess, was 
so pleased therewith, that he immediately made suit to the King 
and Duke, that she might be his bride, which they seemed well 
pleased with, if a peace were first concluded ; but his Highness ab- 
solutely refusing that condition, the King being very well satisfied 
of his Highness's excellent merits, resolved to grant his request, 
and the next day declared in council his design of marrying the 
Prince of Orange with the Princess Mary ; upon which, the whole 
council went in a body to compliment the Prince and Princess ; and 
the news was received both in city and country with bells, bonfires, 
and other signs of extraordinary joy and satisfaction, and they 
were married accordingly, November 4, 1677, being his Highness's 
birth-day. 

Yet amidst these nuptial joys and caresses, his Highness knowing 
how necessary his presence was in Holland, made haste to return ; 
so that he departed from London, November 29, with his Princess, 
and arriving at Homslaer dike, staid there till they made their 
public entry at the Hague, which they did in a few days, in as 
magnificent a manner as both the magistrates and people could 
express to declare their joy and satisfaction for these happy 
nuptials. 

In 1678, even in January, the French King made such mighty 
preparations for the ensuing campaign, as alarmed all Europe, but 
more especially the Dutch, and their allies : so that the King of 
England sent the Earl of Feversham with a project of peace to the 
French King, consisting of several heads, which, if he should refuse 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



41 



to accept of that, then King Charles and the States General would 
unite their forces to compel him to reason ; the French rejected the 
King's propositions, continuing his mighty warlike preparations; 
upon which, King Charles recalled his forces out of the French 
service, who had often occasioned his gaining many considerable 
victories : and the parliament meeting soon after, the King acquainted 
them, that he had made an alliance with Holland, to compel the 
King of France to a reasonable peace ; upon which, the Commons 
gave money for raising thirty thousand land soldiers, and a fleet of 
ninety men of war ; though it appeared afterward, the court never 
intended any war, but to have used these forces to far worse pur- 
poses, even to the advancing arbitrary government and popery in 
these kingdoms ; of which the Dutch were so sensible, that much 
doubting the sincerity of King Charles's negociations, they were at 
last constrained to make peace with the French, upon disadvan- 
tageous terms, to pacify the factions and discontents of the people. 

The French King, in March this year, came before Gaunt with 
an army of eighty thousand men, and by . incessant batteries and 
stormings, took it in nine day's time ; having drawn the Spanish 
forces toward Mons under pretence of besieging it : and then fell 
upon Ipre with such rapid violence, that he soon reduced that like- 
wise, though with such loss of officers and soldiers, that he put his 
army into garrisons, and then returned to Paris ; this gave such a 
mighty alarm to the Hollanders, that all things drove on violently 
for a peace ; which the French King being sensible of, and having 
now gained his point in Flanders, to prevent the English from being 
in earnest against him, he sent an imperious project of a peace, 
declaring he would admit of these conditions and no other, which 
the Dutch were obliged to accept of, since the}' could obtain no 
better ; but before the peace was ratified, the French made several 
pretensions and delays in performing even what themselves had 
agreed to, as his Highness the Prince of Orange foresaw and fore- 
told they would do, insomuch that they blocked up the city of Mons, 
a chief frontier of Flanders ; upon which his Highness resolved to 
march to the relief of it, great preparations being made to that pur- 
pose, and understanding that the confederates had joined the Hol- 
land and Spanish forces, that lay near the canal of Brussels, he de- 
parted by night from the Hague, and marching toward Mons with 
his army, being accompanied with the Duke of Monmouth, he fell 
upon the Duke of Luxemburg with such fury, that he forced him to 
retire: and animating his soldiers, with his eyes sparkling like fire. 



42 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



they despised all danger by their gallant general's example, who in 
the midst of fire and smoke, and bullets flying thick as hail, had ven- 
tured so far, that he had been in imminent danger, had not Monsieur 
Overkirk opposed himself against a daring captain, that was just 
ready to charge the Prince with a full career, laying him dead on 
the place. The horse all this while were lookers on, not being able 
to advance into the narrow passages and steep descents, so that all 
the weight lay on the foot and dragoons; night coming on, the Duke 
of Luxemburg drew off in great silence and confusion, leaving to his 
Highness, as certain marks of victory, the field of battle, his tents, 
baggage, wounded men, store of powder, and other ammunition. 
The States General appointed commissioners to congratulate his 
Highness for this victory, gained with so much reputation and 
glory, beseeching him withal to be careful of his illustrious per- 
son, considering the tranquillity of his country, and the repose 
of the church and Protestant religion depended so much thereon. 

The very day this memorable battle was fought, the peace between 
the Dutch and French was signed at Nimegen, of which intelli- 
gence was brought to his Highness the next morning, who would 
else have pursued the advantages he had gained to the full relief of 
the town, having already, in spite of so many disadvantages from 
an army so suddenly drawn together, and so hasty a march as that 
of the Dutch, taken divers posts, fortified with so much skill and 
industry by £he French, and attacked them with a resolution and 
vigour that at first surprized them, and after an obstinate and 
bloody fight so disordered them, that though the night prevented 
the end of the action, yet it was verily believed, that if the Prince 
had been at liberty next day to pursue it, with seven or eight thou- 
sand English, which were ready to join his army, he must, in all 
appearance, not only have relieved Mons, but made such an im- 
pression into France, as had been often designed, but never at- 
tempted, since the war began ; upon which, a French officer present 
said, " That he esteemed this the only heroic action that had been 
done in the whole course and progress of it." The Prince having 
received advice of the peace, sent a deputy with the news to the 
Duke of Luxemburg, who desired to see the Prince, and accordingly 
met him in the field, in the head of his chief officers, where all 
civilities passed between them prOper for the occasion ; and the 
French with great curiosity crowded about this young Prince, who 
had, the day before engaged in such a desperate action as that of 
St. Dennis was esteemed to be; so that his Highness could not have 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



ended the war with greater glory, nor with greater spite, to see 
such a great occasion wrested out of his hand by the sudden ano 
unexpected signing of the peace, which he had assured himself the 
States General would not have consented to without the Spaniards ; 
yet, upon the certain news of it, he drew back his army, returned 
to the Hague, and left the States to pursue their own measures in 
order to finish the treat} 7 betwixt France and Spain. 

During which, the King of England sent over a person of honour 
to the States General, to acquaint them how much he was surprized 
at the news of their signing a particular treaty with France, even 
without the inclusion of Spain : declaring, that if they would refuse 
to ratify what their ministers had signed at Nimegen, his majesty 
Would immediately declare war against France, and carry it on with 
all vigour, pursuant to the treaty lately entered into with them. All 
men were much amazed at this sudden turn of the court of England, 
nnd the Prince complained, " That nothing was ever more hot and 
cold, nor any councils ever more unsteady than those of England, 
since if this dispatch had come twenty days before, it might have 
changed the face of affairs in Christendom, and have obliged the 
French to such terms of peace, as should have left the world in 
quiet for many years to come, but would now have no effect at all 
which happened accordingly, for at last it appeared to proceed only 
from the discovery of the Popish plot, which extremely alarmed the 
people and parliament, who were much disturbed at the treacherous 
designs of our court, in promoting the Popish and French interest : 
and thereby forcing the Dutch to comply with that King, almost 
upon his own terms ; and therefore to divert the humour, King 
Charles pretended to be in earnest for engaging in a war against 
France, which for some time hindered the ratification of the treaty, 
and English forces were daily transported into Flanders, as if the 
war were really to have been carried on, which encouraged those 
that were against the peace in Holland, and occasioned the Spa- 
niards to use their utmost endeavours to prevent the concluding it. 

But the French King being unwilling to lose the great advantages 
he had obtained by this treaty, resolved to remove all difficulties, 
and satisfy the states in their demands : yea, he dispatched ambas- 
sadors to the Hague, with full authority to remit all the differences 
about the treaty with Spain and himself, to their determination, 
which raised in the States such a good opinion of the sincerity of that 
King's proceedings, that they quickly adjusted all matters in con- 



M THE HISTORY OF THE 



test between the two crowns ; so that the treaty was signed Septem- 
ber 20, 1678* The other confederates, as the Emperor the King of 
Denmark, the Duke of Brandenburg, &c. were very much enraged 
that they were left to treat singly with their potent enemy, who de- 
manded very severe conditions from them : so that the ratification 
of the treaty with Spain being hereby delayed, the French King to 
quicken it, sent Marshal de Humieres with a great army into Flan- 
ders, plundering and burning all before them, and putting these 
countries under contribution with so much fury and insolence, that 
the common people complained heavily of the calamities and miseries 
which they undeservedly suffered by the slowness of the Spanish 
councils ; so that at length both the Spaniard and Emperor were 
obliged to comply with the offers of France, who else threatened in 
a few days to make the terms much higher. The other Princes, 
though they very much resented this sudden conclusion of a peace 
at such disadvantage, yet knowing their own inability, were forced 
to be contented to make a separate peace for themselves. The King 
of England observing that he could not hinder it, sent his pleni- 
potentiaries again to Nimegen, to sign the general treaty; but in 
the interval, some new pretences arising between the Spaniards and 
French, the States General were very diligent to compose them, 
the transactions being seldom managed by them but in the presence 
of his Highness the Prince of Orange, whose prudence was still con- 
sulted in matters of the greatest difficulty ; he himself discovering an 
extraordinary generosity, that while others preferred points of ho- 
nour before the public peace, his Highness quitted his own interest 
in postponing his demands for reparation of the devastations in his 
own estates and territories, so as not to impede the tranquillity of 
his country, many of his lands being ruined and destroyed in the 
Spanish Netherlands, and other adjacent parts ; of which, and se- 
veral other injustices, in seizing upon his large possessions in other 
places, though the provinces of Guelderland, Zealand, and Utrecht, 
made loud complaints against the French in his Highness's behalf, 
yet could the Prince obtain no satisfaction ; but the States and their 
subjects being quite tired out with the war, the general peace was 
signed in January, 1678: and the English mediators were called 
home by that King, who was fully employed at home about the 
matter of the Popish plot, which both houses of parliament, and the 
generality of the nation believed to be real, though the King and 
i?ome of the court credited no more of it than what themselves were 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



45 



concerned in, and the Prince of Orange at that time told a public 
minister, " That he had reason to be confident that the King was a 
Roman Catholic, though he durst not profess it. 

Thus Europe, for the present, was left in a general peace, though 
the French King soon after made such shameful pretences to the de- 
pendencies upon his late conquests, both in Flanders and Ger- 
many, that he gained more after the peace than by his arms in the 
war, no Prince or state being either willing or able to oppose him 
therein. These disputes began in 1681, and continued some years, 
at which time that King likewise began to raise a violent persecution 
against his own Protestant subjects, proceeding from the perfidious- 
ness and ingratitude peculiar to Louis XIV. ; for it is well known 
that for the signal services which they performed to Henry IV. his 
grandfather, in asserting the rights of the crown against the Pa- 
pists, who were then in rebellion against him, that great Prince, in 
acknowledgment thereof, confirmed to them an edict for the free 
exercise of their religion, which was called the edict of Nantz, 
whereby they were to enjoy all liberties and privileges, both in re- 
ligious and civil matters, and to be as capable of all offices and em- 
ployments as his other subjects. This he declared should be invio- 
lable, and it was accordingly confirmed both by his son Louis XIII. 
and likewise by the present King, upon a very remarkable occasion ; 
for he being very young when he ascended the throne, the Prince of 
Conde soon after raised a civil war in the kingdom against him, but 
the Protestants, by their unshaken loyalty to him, defeated the de- 
signs of his enemies, and settled that crown upon his head which he 
wears this day, of which eminent service he seemed to be so sensible, 
that in 1652 he made a public declaration of it at St. Germain's, 
and every one endeavoured to exceed in proclaiming the merits of 
the Protestants, > the Queen Mother herself acknowledging that they 
had preserved tne state : but since by the maxims of the Roman re- 
ligion no faith is to be kept with heretics, the Jesuits and ministers 
of state endeavoured to instil into the King's mind this treacherous 
notion, that since the Protestants were so potent to advance the 
King, they might likewise, upon another occasion, remove him 
again. From this infernal reasoning, without their having given 
the least umbrage or suspicion of disloyalty, it was resolved they 
must be suppressed and ruined. 

Therefore, so soon as the kingdom was settled in peace, the Pro- 
testant towns of Rochel, Montauban, &c. which had shewed the 
greatest zeal for the King's service, were plundered by the soldiers 



46 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



and otherwise impoverished ; then their churches and exercises of 
religion were prohibited them, under false pretences that they ex- 
ceeded the grants allowed them : yea, in matters of law, religion 
was urged by the advocates at the instigation of the priests, so 
that they cried out, " 1 plead against a heretic, an enemy to the 
state and to the King's religion, whom he would have to be de- 
stroyed ;" so that the judge dared not do them justice, for fear of 
being counted a favourer of heretics, and upon complaint they were 
told, u You have your remedy in your own hands, why do not you 
turn Catholics ?" This was succeeded by processes throughout the 
kingdom, to inquire what the Protestants had said or done for 
twenty years past about religion or other matters, and their being- 
no want of perjured villains to swear what was absolutely false, the 
judges, though sensible of it, encouraging them therein, the prisons 
were soon filled, and many innocent and virtuous persons were 
whipped and sent to the gallies for slaves : next they were deprived 
of all public offices and employments, contrary to an express article 
in the edict of Nantz ; yea, were forbid to exercise several arts and 
trades for maintaining their families. 

This was in 1669; and in 1680 all lords and gentlemen were 
commanded to discharge their Protestant officers and servants ; nay, 
they would not suffer Protestant midwives to do their office, but ex- 
pressly ordained, that no woman should receive any assistance in 
that condition but from Popish midwives; and to consummate their 
miseries they were forbid, under severe penalties, to go out of France 
to get their bread in other countries, whereby they were under the 
horrible necessity of perishing for hunger in their own : they laid 
severe taxes upon them, raising the sum from forty or fifty livres to 
seven or eight hundred, and quartered dragoons upon them till it 
was paid : then an edict was published, that children of seven 
years old should abjure their religion, forcing their parents to give 
them allowances beyond their abilities, taking them away, and suf- 
fering them to see them no more; even persons of the best quality 
were thus used: Protestant schoolmasters were prohibited, and 
three universities suppressed, though absolutely granted by the edict 
of Nantz : Papists were forbid to marry Protestants, or ministers to 
hinder people, directly or indirectly, from turning Papists. These 
and a multitude of other cruel and barbarous oppressions they 
groaned under, when the Elector of Brandenburgh being pleased 
to interceed on their behalf, the King assured him " He was very 
well satisfied with the behaviour of his Protestant subjects, and 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



17 



that so long as he lived no wrong should be done them ; and yet at 
the same instant, with his usual sincerity, he gave orders for demo- 
lishing several of their churches and shutting up others, imprisoning 
their ministers, and using divers manifest injustices against those he 
pretended to protect. 

At this time some of the persecuted people sent their children to 
Orange, as being a sovereign principality, to finish the course of 
their studies in security ; but this so displeased the King, that he 
sent a body of two thousand men, under his Lieutenant-General, 
into Languedoc, who positively commanded the Prince of Orange's 
magistrates to send away all the children home again, and not to re- 
ceive any more for the future into their university or schools; which, 
though it appeared very unreasonable, yet the magistrates, to pre- 
vent further mischief, complied therewith, and thought they had 
thereby given full satisfaction to his demands ; but were strang-ely 
surprized to hear, that during the capitulation the Lieutenant-Ge- 
neral still approached with his forces nearer the city, and that he 
had absolute orders to demolish their walls. In short he advanced, 
and quartered eight companies of dragoons in the citizens' houses, 
where they committed many disorders, constraining as well the in- 
habitants/ as the other subjects of his Highness in the villages 
round about, to assist at the ruin of their own walls and towers, 
which were blown up, at which the people laboured the more ear- 
nestly, to be the sooner rid of those arbitrary guests, who were said 
to have already vitiated several virgins. The Prince, having news 
hereof, represented their case to the States General, as a breach of 
the last peace, desiring them to signify their just resentment of these 
unreasonable proceedings of the French King, and to demand repa- 
ration for such horrid violations instantly upon concluding a general 
peace, and without the least provocation given. 

The States accordingly, by their ambassador, represented it as an 
infraction of the peace of Nimegen, and required satisfaction for 
the damages which the Prince and his subjects had so illegally and 
contrary to the faith of treaties and leagues sustained, but could 
only have this answer from the French court, that as to the money 
extorted from the inhabitants it was done without the King's order, 
and he had commanded restitution to be made ; that upon the sub- 
mission of the people to his will and pleasure he had withdrawn his 
forces out of the principality, and restored free commerce to the in- 
habitants according to their desires ; and for the rest he had reason 
for what he had done, 



48 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



After the peace was concluded, his Highness applied himself to 
reform the government of Utrecht and other towns, and likewise to 
concert matters with the States General for the future security of 
his country against the treacheries and false pretensions of France ; 
the Prince being usually present in the principal debates of the as- 
sembly, both as to peace and war, who always appeared no less 
prudent and vigilant to prevent disorders at home than to repel fo- 
reign hostility; In July, 1681, his Highness came over into Eng- 
land, and arriving atAVhitehall dined at Sir Stephen Foxe's, and 
then went to Windsor, where the court then was, and having conti- 
tinued here about ten days, returned back to Holland. 

In the interval of affairs, his Highness retired to Hieren, or 
Soestdyke, to divert himself, and at other times made progresses to 
take a review of the frontier towns belonging to the state, who, in 
1682, had ordered the towns of Breda, Grave, and Naarden to be 
strongly fortified, and it was proposed, in the assembly of the 
States, to raise sixteen thousand men and incorporate them with the 
old regiments, and to add a new squadron of twenty-four men of 
war, both to prevent any sudden insults of the French upon their 
territories, and to assist the Spaniards, if they should commit any 
acts of hostility, which was much to be suspected, considering the 
shameful pretensions that King set up of dependencies in the Spa- 
nish Netherlands. 

In J 682 the Marquis of Grana was made Governor of Flanders, 
of which he gave notice to the States General and the Prince, and 
soon after his Highness had an interview with the Marquis between 
Breda and Antwerp, where they entered into conferences about their 
future managements of affairs : his Highness likewise visiting the 
fortified places in Flanders belonging to the States, being accompa- 
nied by the Princess, who was received with all kind of respect 
and splendor by the cities of Brussels, Antwerp, &c. About this 
time the Count de Avaux, the Frencli Ambassador, arriving at 
the Hague, put in a memorial to the assembly of the manner how 
he expected to receive audience, but the States replied, that the 
things which he desired were wholly new and never practised be- 
fore, and therefore they could in no wise comply with them ; where- 
upon his audience was put off till he was willing to receive it upon 
the former terms. In November this year, the Envoy of Moscovy 
came to wait upon the Prince, then at Soestdyke, to give an account 
that the great Czar was dead, and that the two Princes now reign« 
ing were advanced to the throne. 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



49 



In the end of 1683, the King of Spain being no longer able to 
suffer the continual invasions of the French upon his cities and 
towns in Flanders, and his cruel treatment of his subjects for not 
paying unjust and unreasonable contributions, he proclaimed war 
against him both by sea and land, and ordered all the effects of the 
French merchants in his dominions to be seized, and sent to the 
States General to assist him in this just defensive war, who there- 
upon concluded to raise a considerable force, both for his aid and 
their own security, and accordingly his Highness gave out several 
commissions, and sent eight thousand men toward Flanders. In 
the mean time the French King, according to his usual method, 
having ordered great detachments to be sent from all the conquered 
places toward Valenciennes, in April, 1684, he himself, accompa- 
nied by the dauphin and dauphiness, came from Paris thither. The 
Prince was very desirous to have perfected the new levies, and to 
have marched at the head of them to oppose him, but the obstinacy 
of Amsterdam and some other towns, which refused to allow their 
quota for maintaining them, prevented his Highness's worthy de- 
signs. The French King having mustered his army between Conde 
and Valenciennes, he immediately invested the city of Luxemburg, 
and though the governor made a very notable defence, and the 
French lost a considerable number of men, yet the greatness of 
their army, which was posted so as to prevent any relief, at length 
obliged the town to capitulate, and on the 7th ol June following 
it was surrendered upon articles ; and soon after, a truce being made 
with Spain, they were forced to suffer the loss of this city with the 
same temper as they had done many before. 

And as the French King continued thus tyrannically to injure his 
neighbours, so he treacherously proceeded to exercise horrid cruel- 
ties upon his own Protestant subjects, for though he had resolved 
upon their destruction, yet at the same time he declared, that he 
had not the least intention to infringe the edict of Nantz, and ac- 
cordingly, in 1684, he absolutely concluded to cancel and make 
void that edict, and to banish all the ministers out of the kingdom, 
and several young priests were sent about the country to inflame 
the mobile against the Protestants; and it was declared in print, 
" That the Catholic faith must be planted by fire and sword, al- 
leging the example of a King of Norway, who converted the nobles 
of his country by threatening them to slay their children before 
their eyes, if they would not consent to have them baptized and to 
be baptized themselves." The Protestants were very sensible of 

ii 



50 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



the mischiefs designed against them, and exposed their grievances 
to the King with all humility and submission, which produced no 
other effect upon his tyrannical temper than to hasten their destruc- 
tion by open force and violence, in so terrible a manner as is scarce 
to be paralleled. At first they quartered troops of bloody and despe- 
rate dragoons upon them, who loudly bellowed, " That the King 
would no longer suffer any Protestants in his kingdom, and that 
they must resolve to change their religion, or else to suffer the ut- 
most cruelty that could be inflicted upon them ;" to which these in- 
nocent souls replied, " That they were ready to sacrifice their lives 
and estates for the King's service, but their consciences being God's, 
they could not, in the same manner, dispose of them." This answer 
did but enrage their hellish adversaries, so that they first seized 
their goods, and then fell upon their persons, inflicting all the bar- 
barities imaginable to induce them to renounce their religion. They 
hung up men and women by the hair of the head, or by the feet, 
within their chimnies, smoaking them with wisps of wet straw ; 
they threw them into great fires, and plucked them thence half 
roasted ; they tied them on the rack, and poured wine down tjieir 
throats till the fume had deprived them of their reason, and then made 
them say they would be Catholics : they stripped them stark naked, 
and larded them all over with pins from head to foot; they kept 
them from sleeping seven or eight days and nights together; they 
tied parents to bed-posts, and ravished their daughters before their 
eyes ; they plucked off the nails from the hands and toes of others, 
with the most intolerable pain ; and after these, and a thousand 
other horrid indignities, if they refused to abjure their religion, 
they threw them into close, dark, and stinking dungeons, exercising 
upon them all sorts of inhumanity ; and yet, after all these bar- 
barous usages, they compelled those wretched people, who had not 
courage and constancy enough to persist in the faith, and therefore 
turned Catholics, or new converts, as they called them, to acknow- 
ledge, 66 That they had embraced the Roman religion of their own 
accord," and had the impudence to declare, even against the evi- 
dence of millions of witnesses, u That force and violence had no 
share in the conversions, but that they were soft, calm, and volun- 
tary, and that if there were any dragoons concerned therein, it was 
because the Protestants themselves desired them, that they might 
have a handsome pretence to change their religion." In the mean 
time their houses were demolished, their lands destroyed, their 
woods cut down 5 and their wives and children seized and put into 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



51 



monasteries ; and an edict was published for plucking down all the 
Protestant churches in the kingdom, and all for promoting the Ca» 
tholic religion. Yea, the mischief did not terminate here, for the 
French King, being too potent to be resisted by the Duke of Savoy, 
he compelled that Prince to publish an edict, for prohibiting the 
poor Waldenses and Vaudois to exercise their religion on pain of 
death, and being assisted with a great number of French troops 
under Monsieur Catinat, the soldiers committed the like violences 
and barbarities against them as they had done in France. 

His Highness the Prince of Orange highly disapproved of these 
proceedings, and was a silent mourner for the miseries of the Pro- 
testant church, which now seemed to be threatened more than ever, 
for King Charles II. dying in February, 1685, the Duke of York 
succeeded him, who instantly declared himself a Roman Catholic ; 
and on the 10th of June following the Duke of Monmouth landed, 
with one hundred and fifty men, at Lime, in Dorsetshire, declaring, 
" That he had taken arms for the defence and vindication of the 
Protestant religion, and of the laws, rights, and privileges of Eng- 
land, from the invasion made upon them, and for delivering the 
kingdom from the tyranny of James Duke of York." About the 
same time the Earl of Argyle, setting sail from the Vlye, in Hol- 
land, landed in the West of Scotland, publishing a declaration to 
the same purpose, but either by weakness, or treachery, they were 1 
both soon defeated and both beheaded, and a multitude of their 
followers executed; for which great success King James pub- 
lished a proclamation for a thanksgiving, and among other expres- 
sions says, " That nothing now remained which could possibly dis- 
turb the future quiet of his reign ;" in confidence whereof he, 
with the advice of his Popish counsellors and their adherents, pro- 
ceeded to commit several open violations upon the laws of the land 
and the properties of his subjects. 

Some time before, his Highness returning from Hdunsleyrdike to 
the Hague, gave audience to several foreign ministers, and parted 
thence to visit the garrisons of Maestricht, Boisleduck, and other 
places, and in his return was met by the Princess at Loo, having, 
in his progress, given all necessary orders for the well governing 
and strengthening of those places. In December, 1687, the Mar- 
quis de Albeville, Envoy Extraordinary from the King of England, 
had audience of his Highness and the States of Holland ; and about 
the same time the States, considering the danger that might arise 
from the great number of foreign Popish priests (notwithstanding 



.52 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



the intercession of the envoy of the Emperor of Germany on their 
behalf,) they made a decree, commanding; them to retire out of the 
Netherlands and never to return again, promising a reward of one 
hundred ducatoons to any that should make discovery, and laying a 
penalty of six hundred florins upon those that should harbour or con- 
ceal any of them, for the first offence, twelve hundred for the second, 
and corporeal punishment for the third ; whereupon many of them 
went over into England, where their hopes and expectations of 
having their religion settled daily increased. 

The King of England being unwilling to afford any assistance to 
the heretical states, against his dear ally the French King, pub- 
lished a proclamation in March, 1687, commanding the return of 
all subjects then in the service of the States General, either by 
sea or land, with no other allegation, but that the King thought it 
fit for his service. The States raised some dispute with the Marquis 
de Albeville about this matter, refusing to let them return into Eng- 
land, insomuch that the Marquis soon after delivered in a memorial 
to the States, by express orders from the King, signifying, "That 
his master was much surprized, to find that their lordships persisted 
in their resolutions in refusing leave to his subjects to return into 
England, and that whereas their lordships alleged, that there was 
nothing so agreeable to nature as that he who was born free should 
have the right and liberty to settle himself wherever he should 
think it most advantageous to him, and that it was in his power to 
be naturalized and become a subject to them under whose sove- 
reignty he submits his person, and that the government receiving 
him thereby acquire over him the same right it has over its own 
proper and natural subjects." The Marquis replied, " That this 
pretended natural liberty could not subsist after obedience and do- 
minion had been introduced, so that the rights of sovereignty and 
obedience were now only to be considered, and that in virtue of 
those rights it had been the common opinion in all times, that no 
natural subject could withdraw himself from the obedience he owed 
to his lawful Prince, from whence it was that the Kings of Great 
Britain had, in all times, prohibited their subjects to engage in any 
foreign service, and had recalled them from it, when, and as often 
as they thought fit." The Marquis further instanced a capitulation 
made between the Earl of Ossory and his Highness the Prince of 
Orange, " That in case the King of Great Britain should recal his 
subjects in the service of the States, they should be permitted to 
retire ; by virtue of which capitulation, and his reasons alleged, the 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



53 



Marquis demanded their dismission, from which the King would 
never depart ; neither was he willing to doubt of their lordship's 
compliance with it." But it seems few or none were willing, for 
very few returned, judging it may be, that they might do more ser- 
vice where they were, for the interest of their, country, than in 
fighting at home against their own countrymen, and fellow Protest- 
ants, and as their unwillingness justified the resolution of the States 
General, so it rendered the endeavours of the Marquis ineffectual ; 
for the States having disbanded them, the greatest part listed them- 
selves again under their command, as well officers as soldiers, 
though the King had ordered the masters and captains of ships and 
vessels, to give such as would return, free passage, with promise of 
advancement when they came to England. 

In May, 1688, the Prince Elector of Saxony, was splendidly en^ 
tertained by his Highness the Prince of Orange, at Homslaerdike : 
and the next day his Highness accompanied him to Scheveling, 
where they went on board a small vessel . that carried them to a 
squadron of seventeen men of war, which arrived from Schouvelt 
under the command of Vice-admiral Allemond, who, upon their 
approach, sent two light frigates and a shallop to meet them, and 
they were saluted with the cannon of all the ships : when, having 
dined on board the Vice-admiral, they returned to Scheveling, and 
from thence, his Electoral Highness went to visit Delft, Rotterdam, 
Dort, Maestricht, Leige, Aix, and Cologne, and so returned home 
by the way of Frankfort ; about which time, the Envoy of Branden- 
burg acquainted the Prince of Orange and the States with the death 
of the Elector, his master, a Prince extremely firm to the Protestant 
interest, and whose death was much regretted by the Protestant 
Princes and States ; the Prince and States sending a gentleman with 
compliments of condolence to his son and successor. 

The King of England having obtained the opinion of his judges, 
for the dispensing power, soon made use of it; for first he employed 
Popish officers, and put them into chief command : the Earl of 
Clarendon being recalled from the government of Ireland, and the 
Earl of Tyrconnel, a Papist, sent to succeed him, to the great 
terror of the Protestants of that kingdom. The Earl of Castlemain 
was sent ambassador to Rome ; an army was raised and mustered at 
Hounslow heath ; the Lord Bishop of London was convented before 
a new and illegal court of judicature for ecclesiastical affairs, and 
suspended from his office for refusing to suspend the Reverend Dr. 
Sharpe, under pretence that he had uttered seditious words in his 



54 THE HISTORY OF THE 

sermons ; then a declaration was published for liberty of conscience, 
and suspending all the penal laws in matters of religion, and ac- 
quitting all persons from taking the oaths of allegiance and supre- 
macy, both in England, Scotland and Ireland; the Pope's nuncio 
arrived in England, being received with much respect by the King, 
and dined with the King and the Lord Mayor at Guildhall ; Popish 
chapels were erected in several places in London, and other cities 
and towns in England ; the charters of several corporations that 
■were yet unseized, were now taken away ; these, and divers other 
illegal preceedings, put the nation into a ferment, and they were 
enraged at the authors of them ; nay, they do not stop here, for 
after this the King again renewed his declaration for liberty of con- 
science, with a peremptory order, to command all the clergy to read 
it in their several churches and chapels throughout the kingdom, and 
that the Bishops should distribute them throughout their several 
dioceses ; but the rigorous proceedings against the Lord Bishop of 
London, the last year, and against the Vice-chancellor of Cambridge, 
and the fellows of Magdalen College in Oxford, this year, were such 
evident breaches of his indulgence to tender consciences, that it gave 
still greater dissatisfaction to the nation, and portended some sudden 
alteration ; the Vice-chancellor of Cambridge being deprived of his 
office, andsuspended of his headship, for refusing to admit one Alban 
Francis, a benedictine monk, to be master of arts, without taking the 
oaths, by virtue of the dispensing power, though contrary to the 
statutes which he had sworn to maintain ; and the fellows of Mag- 
dalen College in Oxford, being twenty-six in number, for refusing 
to admit one Farmer, a scandalous Popish priest, to the president- 
ship of that college : and electing Dr. Hough, were pronounced 
guilty of disobedience to his Majesty's commands, and deprived and 
expelled from their respective fellowships ; and the Bishops judging 
that their distributing the declaration would be an owning and 
asserting the King's assumed dispensing power, and foreseeing the 
pernicious consequences thereof, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and 
six others, drew up a petition in behalf of themselves, and their 
brethren, setting forth the reasons why they could not comply there- 
with i this was so ill resented by the King and his Popish counsellors, 
that the petition was judged tumultuary, and all the seveu Bishops 
were committed prisoners to the Tower ; and now the Jesuits acted 
their master-piece of policy, as they imagined, though it proved 
very fatal to them : for knowing that the King grew old, and that 
on his life the hopes of restoring their religion depended, since the 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



5b 



heir apparent was a Protestant, who would soon ruin all their 
machinations. They resolved if possible to advance a Popish succes- 
sor, and thereby ensure Popery and slavery to the nation : here- 
upon, they raised a report some time before, that the Queen was 
with child, though the people did not believe it, and several 
lampoons were made upon that subject ; and the Bishops bein^ now 
secured, this was thought the proper time for the Queen to fall in 
labour, and accordingly. June 10, 16SS, it was published, that she 
was delivered of a Prince, for which the King ordered all signs of 
rejoicing to be made, and a day of thanksgiving was appointed : as 
being a thing of mighty consequence for advancing the Catholic 
cause ; though the joy was somewhat abated by the acquittal of the 
seven Bishops, five days after, who being tried at the King's Bench 
bar, were brought in not guilty : at which, the people, yea, the 
King's own army at Hounslow heath, shouted for joy, to the severe 
mortification of the court. 

The King having declared that he intended to call a parliament 
to turn his declaration of liberty of conscience into a law, and like- 
wise to abrogate all the penal laws and tests, both against the Dis- 
senters and Roman Catholics, the Jesuits had a great desire to 
sound the intentions and thoughts of their Highnesses the Prince 
and Princess of Orange, upon that subject : to which purpose. Mr. 
James Steward undertook to write a letter to pensionary Fagel, 
not without the knowledge and approbation of the King, which 
occasioned Minheer Fagel's answer to this effect : 

That their Highnesses had often declared, as they did more 
particularly to the Marquis Albeville, his Majesty's envoy extra- 
ordinary to the States ; that it is their opinion, that no Christian 
ought to be persecuted for his conscience, or be ill-used because he 
differs from the public and established religion; and therefore, thev 
could be content that even the Papists in England. Scotland, and 
Ireland, might be suffered to continue in their religion with as much 
liberty as is allowed them by the States of the United Provinces ; and 
as for the Protestant dissenters, their Highnesses did not only con- 
sent, but heartily approve of their having an entire liberty, for the 
full exercise of their religion without any trouble or hindrance. 
That their Highnesses were ready, in case his Majesty of England 
should desire it. to declare their willingness to concur in the settling 
and confirming this liberty, as far as it lay in them : and were readv, 
if desired, to concur in repealing the laws, provided always that 
those laws remain still in their full force and vigour, whereby the 



56 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



Roman Catholics are excluded out of both houses of parliament, and 
out of all public employments, ecclesiastical, civil, and military, 
as likewise all those other laws which confirm the Protestant re- 
ligion, and which secure it against all the attempts of the Roman 
Catholics. But that their Highnesses could not agree to the repeal- 
ing of the tests, or those penal laws that tend to the security of the 
Protestant religion, since the Roman Catholics receive no other 
prejudice from these than the being excluded from the parliaments 
or from public employments : and that by them the Protestant reli- 
gion is covered from all the designs of the Roman Catholics against 
it, or against the public safety, and neither the tests, nor those other 
laws can be said to carry in them any severity against the Roman 
Catholics, upon account of their consciences, they being only pro- 
visions qualifying men to be members of parliament, or to be capable 
of bearing offices, by which, they must declare before God and man 
that they are for the Protestant religion ; so that all this amounts to 
no more than a securing the Protestant religion from any prejudice 
that it may receive from the Roman Catholics. That their Highnesses 
have thought and do still think, that more than this ought not be 
asked nor expected from them : since, by this means, the Roman 
Catholics and their posterity, would be for ever secured from all 
troubles in their persons and estates, or in the exercise of their re- 
ligion; and that the Roman Catholics ought to be satisfied with 
this, and not to disquiet the kingdom because they cannot sit in 
parliament, or to be in employment ; or, because those laws, wherein 
the security of the Protestant religion chiefly consists, are not re- 
pealed, by which they may be in condition to overturn it ; that 
their Highnesses also believed, that the Dissenters would be for 
ever satisfied when they should be for ever covered from all danger 
of being disturbed or punished for the free exercise of their religion, 
under any pretence whatsoever." 

This was the substance of the letter written by that great minister 
of state, as discovering the just sentiments of their Highnesses, 
which did no ways please the Papists, who had high expectations of 
carrying all before them ; and therefore, Mr. Steward, in his second 
letter to the pensioner, awhile after, says, "That the court was 
quite beyond it, and had taken other measures;" and what they 
were, soon after appeared: namely, to defeat their royal High- 
nesses of their just interest and right to the succession of the 
crown, by pretending that the Queen was delivered of a Prince of 
Wales. 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



57 



But the nobility and gentry of England beholding the deplorable 
state of the nation, and foreseeing the subversion of their ancient 
laws, and established religion to be designed by him who had largely 
promised the protection of both ; and at the same time, seeing 
Popery and arbitrary power hovering over their heads, and ready to 
seize on their liberties and properties, and that both were designed 
to be perpetuated and entailed upon them and their posterity, by a 
succession of Popish Princes : Mrs. Cellier having declared in print, 
before the pretended birth, that it would be a Prince, and that the 
Queen would likewise bring forth a Duke of York, and a Duke of 
Gloucester ; after several consultations whither to fly for succour, 
at length, they resolved to apply themselves to his Highness the 
Prince of Orange, to whose illustrious family it had been an inherent 
glory for some ages, to relieve the distressed, and support the Pro- 
testant cause ; his Highness, they saw, inherited all the surpas- 
sing qualities of his ancestors: their matchless prudence, justice, 
courage, their truth, and magnanimity, and besides all these excel- 
lent endowments, they were well assured of the fair title he had to 
the crown itself ; to him, therefore, the Lords, spiritual and tempo- 
ral, with a great number of the chiefest gentry of the kingdom, 
make their application, and in an humble memorial represent their 
grievances to their Highness to this effect : 

" That their Highnesses cannot be ignorant, that the Protestants 
of England, who continue true to the government and religion, 
have been many ways troubled and vexed by many devices and 
machinations of the Papists, carried on under pretence of royal 
authority, and things required of them unanswerable before God 
and man ; several ecclesiastical benefices of churches taken from 
them, without any other reason given than the King's pleasure ; 
themselves summoned and sentenced by commissioners, appointed 
contrary to express law, deprived of their free choice of magistrates; 
divers corporations dissolved ; the legal security of their religion 
and liberty established by King and parliament, abolished and taken 
away by a pretended dispensing power ; new and unheard-of maxims 
broached, that subjects have no right, but what is founded and de- 
rived from the King's w r ill and pleasure; the militia put into the 
hands of persons unqualified by law, and a Popish mercenary army 
maintained in the kingdom in times of peace, directly contrary to 
law ; executing of ancient laws against several crimes and mis- 
demeanors obstructed and prohibited, and the statutes against cor- 
responding with the court of Rome, against Papal jurisdictions, and 

i 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



Popish Priests suspended in the courts of justice ; those judges dis- 
placed, who acquit any whom the court would have condemned, as 
happened to the judges Holloway and Powel, for acquitting the 
s§ven Bishops ; the free choice of members of parliament wholly 
taken away, notwithstanding all the care and provision made by 
the law in that behalf, by the Quo Warranto's against charters, 
and proposing ensnaring questions ; all things levelled at the pro- 
pagation of Popery, for which the courts of England and France 
have now for a long time so strenuously bestirred themselves ; en- 
deavours and practices used to persuade their Highnesses to consent 
to the abolishing the penal laws and tests, (though herein disap- 
pointed.) The Queen's being with child first proclaimed, and 
divulged by Popish Priests, and in the sequel thereofj a child pro- 
duced without any clear proof or evidence of sufficient and unsus- 
pected witnesses : besides that, it cannot be believed that the said 
child was ever born of the Queen, by reason of her known sickness 
and indisposition, and many other arguments, as not being con- 
firmed by any certain foregoing signs of conception : the place of 
her lying in being often changed, and her pretended delivery cele- 
brated in the absence of the Princess of Denmark, and while the 
English ladies were at church, in a bedstead which was provided 
with a convenient passage in the side of it, by which means the 
child was conveyed to the Queen by the ladies L'Abadie and 
Teurarier ; that these be matters left to the discretion of a free 
parliament, and that in the name of your Highnesses, and the 
whole nation, the Queen may be desired to prove the real birth of 
the pretended Prince of Wales, by a competent number of credible 
witnesses of both sexes ; or in case of a failure herein, that the 
reports of any such birth may be suppressed for the time to come. 
That they humbly crave the protection of their Highnesses in this 
matter, as well as with respect to the abolition and suspension 
of the laws made to maintain the Protestant religion, their civil 
rights, fundamental liberties, and free government ; and that their 
Highnesses would be pleased to insist that, besides the business 
of the child, the government of England according to law may be 
restored; the laws against Papal jurisdiction, Priests, &e. be put 
in execution : the suspending and dispensing power be declared 
null and void, and the privileges of the city of London, free choice 
of magistrates, and all the other liberties, as well of that as other 
corporations, be restored and maintained." 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



59 



Their Highnesses with no less willingness than generosity, and 
out of their zeal for the Protestant religion, and compassion of the 
oppressed, listened to their complaints. And his Highness well 
weighing the justness of their requests, and the reality of their 
grievances, instantly began to take measures in order to their de- 
liverance. And soon after, his Highness went to meet the Elector 
of Brandenburg, and some other Princes and noblemen of Germany, 
at Mindeu, which so alarmed the French King, that Monsieur 
D'Avaux, his ambassador, presented a memorial to the States 
General, intimating, that the King, his master being informed of 
the motions and conferences that were made and held towards the 
frontiers of Cologne, against the Cardinal of Furstemburgh and 
the Chapter, he was resolved to maintain the Cardinal and their 
privileges, against all those who should go about to trouble them : 
but herein, the politics of King Lewis failed him, his Highness the 
Prince of Orange managing his affairs with such an exact secrecy, 
that neither the King, nor his sagacious council could penetrate 
into the design, till it was upon the point of execution, and out of 
danger of being defeated. For upon his Highness's return from 
that conference at Loe, orders were given for drawing the forces 
the States had raised for his Highness's assistance, and encamping 
them upon the Mocker Hyde, and the forces of those other Princes, 
whom his Highness had engaged to aid him in this glorious expedi- 
tion, had orders to be upon their march, as those of Brandenburg, 
Hesse-Cassel. <Scc. And the States General assembled at the Ha^ue, 
where his Highness was present, and their debates and consultations 
having been kept very- private for some days, at length they pub- 
lished the following manifesto : 

<; That the States had resolved with their ships and men to assist 
the Prince of Orange, who being invited by the reiterated impor- 
tunities of the nobility and gentry of England, to oppose that 
arbitrary government, which his Britannic Majesty is designing to 
introduce into that kingdom, has fully determined to go over to that 
country, as well for that reason as to save the English religion, 
which his Majesty ha^ also resolved to destroy; both \*hich enter- 
prises being so contrarv to the laws of God and man, and particu- 
larly of those of the kingdom of which they threatened the utter 
subversion ; the Prince of Orange, instigated by the motives of his 
own innate piety, which will not permit him to sutter the ruin of 
religion, nor the overturning of so fair a kingdom, has resolved to 
call a free parbament. &c for which reasons, and because the design 

i 2 



60 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



of the King of England is manifestly apparent by the strict alliance 
which he has contracted with the most Ghristian King, who bear& 
no good-will to the United Provinces, and whose proceedings are 
justly therefore by them to be suspected ; so that if his Britannic 
Majesty should be suffered to become absolute in his dominions, the 
United Provinces could no longer be in security ; and therefore, it 
being their interest that the fundamental laws of that kingdom, and 
the English religion should be preserved, they hoped that God 
would bless the Prince of Orange with happy success." 

King James, though at first he would not believe that the vast 
preparations in Holland concerned him, though the French King 
had given him notice of them, some time before, was now fully con- 
vinced thereof by this manifesto : and all of a sudden the bells began 
to ring backward at Whitehall, and the first news we heard of 
their disturbance was a proclamation, September 28, 1688, by which 
it was intimated, " That the King had received undoubted intelli- 
gence, that a great and sudden invasion from Holland was to be 
speedily made in an hostile manner upon this kingdom, under the 
false pretences of liberty, property and religion : but that an ab- 
solute conquest of his kingdoms, and the subduing him and his 
dominions to a foreign power, &c. However, relying upon the 
ancient courage, faith, and allegiance of his people, as he had 
formerly ventured his life, for the honour and safety of the nation, 
so he was now resolved to live and die in defence thereof, against 
all enemies whatsoever, &c." After this, the King published a 
proclamation of general pardon, with some few exceptions ; restored 
the injured gentlemen of Oxford and Cambridge to their rights; 
dissolved the ecclesiastical commissions ; vacated the Quo Warranto 
against the city of London, and issued forth a proclamation for 
restoring all corporations to their ancient charters, liberties, rights, 
and franchises; in short, he undid almost in one day, all that he 
had been doing since his first coming to the crown. 

Yet such was the folly of the Romish party, in the midst of this 
consternation, that the show of the Prince of Wales still went on, 
and October 15, the child was christened : the Pope represented by 
his nuncio, being godfather, and the Queen dowager, godmother; 
and two days after, the King, to secure his territories, commanded 
his lord and deputy-lieutenants, and a other officers concerned, to 
cause the coasts to be strictly guarded, and that upon the first ap- 
proach of the enemy, all the oxen, holies, and cattle, which might 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



61 



be fit for draught, should be driven twenty miles from the place 
where the enemy should attempt to land. 

October 22, the King commanded a particular assembly of his 
privy council, and sent for all such peers, spiritual and temporal, as 
were in town, together with the Lord Mayor and aldermen of 
the city of London, the judges, and several of his council learned 
in the law, telling them, " That he had called them together upon 
a very extraordinary occasion, but that extraordinary diseases must 
have extraordinary remedies ; that the malicious endeavours of his 
adversaries had so poisoned the minds of some of his subjects, that 
very many of them did not believe that the child wherewith God 
had blessed him was his, but a supposed child ; however, he could 
say, that by a particular providence, scarce ever any Prince was 
born where there were so many persons present ; that he had taken 
time to have the matter heard and examined, expecting that the 
Prince of Orange, with the first easterly wind, would invade the 
kingdom, and, therefore, as he had often ventured his life for the 
nation before he came to the crown, so he thought himself more 
obliged to do the same being King, and did intend to go against 
him in person, by which, in regard, he might be exposed to various 
accidents, he therefore thought it necessary to have this done first, 
to satisfy his subjects, and prevent the kingdoms being engaged in 
blood and confusion after his death." 

After this, the affidavits of several ladies were produced, of which 
some swore that they saw milk upon her Majesty's smock (for they 
did not think fit to mince the matter;) others, that they saw the 
midwife take the child out of the bed; another, that she stood by 
the bedside when her Majesty was delivered, of the Prince; another 
swore, that having had the honour to put on her Majesty's smock 
she saw the Queen's milk; another deposed, that she saw the Queen 
in labour, and heard her cry out much ; another, that she saw the 
midwife give the Prince three drops of the blood of the navel- 
string mixed with black cherry water, with a great deal of other 
nauseous stuff. Then the affidavits of the Lords were produced, 
among whom one swore, that he saw Mrs. Labadie carry the child 
into another room, whither h( followed her, and saw the child 
when she first opened it, and that it was black and reeking ; another 
swore that he saw the chiH, and that it had the marks of being 
new born; another, that he heard the Queen make three groans, or 
squeeks, and that at the last "bf the three the Queen was delivered 
of a child; the physicians swore what was proper, but not fit to be 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



repeated : however, the whole was at length published, to the 
shame and scandal of all modest eyes and ears. 

" And now nty Lords," said the King, after all the depositions 
were read, " although I did not question but that ever? person here 

E resent was satisfied before, yet, by what you have heard, you will 
e the better able to satisfy others ; besides, could I and the Queen 
have been thought so wicked as to impose a child upon the nation, 
we saw how impossible it would have been ; neither could I myself 
have been imposed upon, having constantly been with the Queen 
during her being with child, and the whole time of her labour, 
and, therefore, there is none of you but will easily believe that I, 
who have suffered so much for conscience sake, cannot be capable of 
so great a villainy, to the prejudice of my own children. 1 thank 
God that those that know me know well, that it is my principle to 
do as I would be done by, and that I would rather die a thousand 
deaths than do the least wrong to any of my children." 

Yet this zealous harangue had but little influence upon the gene- 
rality of the people (with whom the King by his late actions had 
wholly forfeited his reputation,) who daily discovered, as far as they 
dared, their longing desires for the arrival of his Highness the 
Prince of Orange, to deliver them from the apparent mischiefs that 
impended over the nation. 

His Highness's preparations for his expedition went on apace, 
and the Marquis of Albeville, King James's ambassador at the 
Hague, presented a memorial to the deputies of the States General 
upon that subject ; but while he expected an answer the troops em- 
barked, and his Highness and the Marshal Schomberg came to the 
Hague, and on Friday, October 16, the fleet consisting of six hun- 
dred and thirty-five men of war, fire-ships, tenders, &c. for the car- 
riage of horse, foot, arms, and ammunition, sailed about four in 
the afternoon from the Flats near the Brill, with the wind at S. W. 
and by S. The Prince embarked in a vessel of between twenty- 
eight and thirty gunsj with Count Solmes, Count Stirum, the Sieur 
Bentwick, the Sieur Overkirk, Marshal Schomberg, Count Charles 
his son, with several others,. as well English noblemen as strangers, 
who Were in the fleet. Next day they came in sight of Schevelinge, 
but meeting with a very terrible storm, which continued for two 
days and nights together, was forced to put into harbour again, 
some ships and small vessels, on which the horse were aboard, suf- 
fering some prejudice. Upon their return the Prince immediately 
^ave ah account to the States General of the condition of the fleets 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



which was not so much damaged as was published in the English 
Gazette, but rather turned to the advantage of his Highness as the 
affair was managed ; for to make the English court more remiss in 
their preparations, the Haarlem and Amsterdam Gazettes told a 
most lamentable story of what had happened, " As that the Prince 
was returned, with his fleet so miserably torn and shattered, that 
he had lost nine of his men of war and several lesser vessels ; that 
one thousand of his horse were utterly lost ; that a calenture was 
got among the seamen; that Dr. Burnet and several of the Prince's 
chief ministers were drowned ; and that the States had an ill opinion 
of the expedition in general, so that it was a thing almost impos- 
sible, that the Prince should be in a condition to pursue his design 
till the next spring." 

This stratagem had some effect upon the court, for the Papists' 
hopes hereupon began so to revive, that the King ordered the re- 
storing the charters and the fellows of Magdalen College; the va- 
cating the ecclesiastical commission, and the other grants which he 
had newly made to be suspended, till he heard the Prince was again 
put to sea, and thereby made the whole nation sensible how little 
trust or credit was to be given to his most solemn promises and de- 
clarations. But all hands being at work, the damage that had been 
sustained was repaired in eight days time, so that on November 3, 
about ten in the morning, upon a signal given, the whole fleet once 
more set sail. About midnight an advice boat brought intelligence 
that the English fleet, consisting of thirty-three sail, lay to the 
westward of the Prince's, upon which the Prince fired a gun, which 
caused a great consternation through the whole fleet ; but the small 
advice boats cruising for more certain intelligence brought news, 
that instead of the English fleet which had given the alarm, it was 
only Admiral Herbert, with a part of the Dutch fleet which had 
been for some hours separated from the main body. In the morning 
the Prince gave a signal for the Admirals to come aboard of him, 
and soon after the fleet was got into the North Forelands, at which 
time the fleet was ordered to close up in a body, fourteen or fifteen 
feet deep, his Highness leading the van in the ship called the Brill, 
carrying a flag with English colours, with this motto, " The Pro- 
testant religion and liberties of England ;" and underneath, " I will 
maintain it." In the mean time the council of war sent three small 
frigates into the mouth of the Thames, who, returning, brought 
news that the English fleet lay at the buoy in the Oar, about 
thirty-four sail, the wind contrary at E. N. E.; upon which the 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



Prince gave orders for stretching the whole fleet between Dover and 
Calais, seventy-five deep, which extended in breadth within a 
league of each place, the flanks and rear being guarded by men of 
war, the trumpets sounding and drums beating at least three hours 
together ; after which, the Prince giving the signal for the fleet to 
close, they sailed that night as far as Beachy, and the next morning 
came in view of the Isle of Wight, and then orders were given to 
extend the fleet in a line as before. The next morning they made 
directly for Torbay. Upon his Highness's arrival, the people, 
flocking in great numbers to the shore, signified their welcome in 
loud acclamations of joy. Soon after, the Prince gave two signals 
for the Admirals to come on board, and then the whole fleet cast 
anchor, and preparation was made for landing, whilst the Admirals 
stood out to sea as a guard, and the small men of war attended for 
the defence of those that landed, besides six men of war that were 
ordered to run in and guard the bay itself. It is remarkable, that 
his Highness had a brisk east and north-easterly wind for two dajs, 
which brought them directly toward Torbay, and the wind then 
turning westerly carried them into the bay, which otherwise might 
have been very troublesome and dangerous. 

The Prince now displayed a red flag at the mizen-yard arm, 
while General Mackay, with six regiments of foot, was the first 
that set foot on shore, under the protection of the Little Porpoise, 
which was ordered to run herself aground to secure their landing. 
This was upon November 5, a day memorable to the English be- 
fore, but now doubly remarkable for a second deliverance from the 
'bloody designs of the Papists. But the people were so far from 
making opposition, that they only stood there to welcome their 
guests with all manner of provisions and refreshments; so that his 
Highness safely landed his whole army, consisting of ten thousand 
six hundred and ninety-two foot, and three thousand six hundred 
and sixty horse, in all fourteen thousand three hundred and fifty-two. 

The news of the Prince's being landed was carried to the Earl of 
Bath at Exeter, and Captain Hicks going thither, the people flocked 
to him in great numbers to list themselves in the service of the 
Prince of Orange, for which the mayor of the city would have sent 
him to prison, but was prevented by the people ; the next day the 
Lord Mordaunt with Dr. Burnet came thither, with three or four 
troops of horse, and commanding the gates to be opened, released 
the captain, and going to the mayor, asked him if he would wait 
upon the Prince at his entrance, who pleading his obligation of an 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



65 



oath to King James, and desiring that his conscience might not be 
imposed on, he was excused. The next day the Prince, with his 
guards, marched into the city, and went to the Dean's house, where 
he resided during his stay at Exeter ; after whom followed the 
whole body of his army, who were quartered about Tiverton, Cul- 
hampton, Hon} ton, and other places. The Sunday following his 
Highness went to the cathedral, where his Highness's declaration 
of the reasons inducing him to appear in arms in the kingdom of 
England, for preserving the Protestant religion, and for restoring 
the liberties of England, Scotland, and Ireland, was read by Dr. 
Burnet before a numerous auditory, the substance whereof was : 

" That it was certain and evident to all men, that the public 
peace and happiness of any kingdom and state could not be pre- 
served, where the laws, liberties, and customs, established by the 
lawful authority in it, were openly transgressed and annulled, more 
especially where the alteration of religion was endeavoured, and a 
religion contrary to law designed to be introduced, whereas they 
who were most immediately concerned therein, were indispensably 
bound to preserve the established laws, liberties and customs, and 
above all, the religion xind worship of God established among them, 
and to take effectual care that the inhabitants of such state or king- 
dom might neither be deprived of their religion, nor outed of their 
civil rights ; more especially, since the greatness of kings, royal 
families, and all in authority, as well as the happiness of their sub- 
jects and people, depended in a more especial manner upon an 
exact observation of those their laws, liberties and customs; upon 
which ground, his Highness further declared, that he could no 
longer forbear to let the world know, how apparently he saw with 
regret, that they who had then the chief credit with the King, had 
overturned the religion, laws and liberties of these realms, and 
subjected them in all things relating to their consciences, liberties 
and properties, to arbitrary government, and that not only by 
secret and indirect ways, but in an open and undisguised manner ; 
that those evil counsellors, for advancing and colouring this with 
some plausible pretences, did invent, and set on foot, the King's 
dispensing power, by virtue of which they pretend, that according 
to law, he can suspend and dispense with the execution of the laws 
that have been enacted by the authority of King and parliament for 
the security and happiness of the subject, and to render these laws 
of no effect, though it is most certain that they cannot be suspended, 
but by the same authority that made them ; for though the Kin« 



66 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



may pardon the punishment of a transgressor in cases of treason 
and felony, yet it cannot with any colour of reason be thence in- 
ferred, that he can entirely suspend the execution of those laws, 
unless he has such an arbitrary power, that the laws, liberties, 
honours and estates of the subjects, depend wholly upon his good- 
will and pleasure; and though they have obtained a sentence for 
asserting this dispensing power to be a right depending on the 
crown, yet it cannot be imagined that it should be put in the power 
of twelve judges, to offer up the laws, rights and liberties of the 
whole nation, to the arbitrary will of the King, especially such as 
are first advanced, and then threatened to be turned out, if they do 
not comply therein ; and some Papists who are incapable by law, 
are made judges. 

" That the King, though known to be a Papist, was yet received 
and acknowledged by the people to be their King, and did solemnly 
swear and promise, at his coronation, that he would maintain their 
laws and liberties, and the church of England, as it was established 
by law ; and though several laws have been lately made for preserv- 
ing their liberties, and the Protestant religion, and to prevent all 
Papists from being put into any employment : yet, these evil coun- 
sellors have, in effect, annulled and abolished all those laws, and 
in direct opposition thereto, have set up an illegal commission for 
ecclesiastical affairs, in which, one of the King's ministers, who is 
tt Papist, sits and acts, though bylaw incapable of any public em- 
ployment ; that these commissioners have suspended the Bishop of 
London, only for refusing to obey an order to suspend a worthy 
divine, without citation or process; they have turned out the 
President and Fellows of Magdalen college, without citing them 
before any legal court, or competent judge, only for refusing to 
choose for their president, a person recommended by these evil 
counsellors, contrary to the right of free election, and contrary to 
magna charta, " That no man shall lose life or goods, but by the 
law of the land ;" and afterward, put the college wholly into the 
hands of Papists. They have cited before them all the chancellors 
and archdeacons of England, to certify the names of the clergy, who 
did not read the King's declaration for liberty of conscience, though 
the reading of it was not enjoined them by the Bishops, who are 
their ordinaries. These evil counsellors have procured orders for 
building several Popish churches, chapels, monasteries, colleges of 
Jesuits for corrupting of youth, and raised one to be a privy-coun- 
sellor and minister of state 5 contrary to several express laws, by the 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



67 



rules of which they evidently shew that they are no way restrained, 
and wherein they are served and seconded by these ecclesiastical 
commissioners. 

" They have also followed the same methods in civil affairs, by 
procuring orders to examine all lord lieutenants, deputy lieutenants, 
sheriffs, justices of peace, and all others that were in any public 
employment, whether they were for taking away the penal laws and 
tests, and those who in conscience could not comply were turned 
out, and divers unqualified persons put in their rooms ; they have 
seized upon the charters of several towTis, and procured the surren- 
der of others, which elect parliament men ; and placed new magis- 
trates, many of them Papists, in divers corporations. They have 
removed such judges, as would not in all things conform to their 
designs, and put in others, whose compliance they disowned before- 
hand : whereby much blood hath been shed in many places of the 
kingdom against all the forms and rules of law, without suffering 
the persons accused to plead in their own defence. They have put 
the administration of justice into the hands of Papists, though all 
their sentences are null and void in law, and have disposed of all 
military employments, in the same manner both by sea and land, 
to strangers as well as natives, and Irish as well as English, to 
maintain and execute their wicked designs of enslaving the nation, 
by their assistance. In Ireland, the whole government is put into 
the hands of Papists, so that the Protestants through terror, have in 
great numbers left that kingdom, and abandoned their estates in it, 
remembering well that cruel and bloody massacre, in 1641. In 
Scotland, the King has declared himself clothed with such an abso- 
lute power, as to be obeyed without reserve. 

u These great oppressions, and open contempts of all laws, being 
insufferable, have put the subjects under great fears, and to look out 
for such lawful remedies as are allowed of in all nations ; but to 
deter them from endeavouring to preserve their lives and estates by 
petition, or other means authorized by law, these evil counsellors 
proceeded with all rigour against those that used those methods, 
particularly the Archbishop of Canterbury, and others, w ho humbly- 
offering their reasons, w hy they could not order the declaration of 
liberty of conscience to be Vead in the churches, w ere sent to prison, 
and after, tried, as if guilty of some enormous crime, and obliged to 
appear before professed Papists : and those judges that gave their 
opinion in their favour were turned out. They have also treated a 
peer of the realm as a criminal, for saying, tliat the subjects were 



68 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



not bound to obey the orders of a Popish justice of peace, because 
they are put into employments contrary to law. 

* That his Highness, and his dearest. and most beloved consort? 
the Princess, have signified to the King, in terms full of respect, 
the just and deep regret these proceedings have given them, and in 
compliance with his desires have declared their thoughts about 
repealing the penal laws and tests, whereby they hoped there might 
have been an happy agreement among the subjects of all persuasions, 
which yet these evil counsellors have so misrepresented, as to en- 
deavour to alienate the King more and more from them, as if they 
designed to disturb the quiet and happiness of the kingdom ; and 
the last and great remedy for all these -evils being the calling of a 
parliament, for securing the nation against the practices of the^e 
evil counsellors, cannot be easily brought about, since by a parlia- 
ment duly chosen, they doubt to be called to account, for all their 
open violations of the laws, their plots and conspiracies against the 
Protestant religion, and the lives and liberties of the subjects, their 
designing, under the specious pretence of liberty of conscience, 
to sow divisions among Protestants, and from their mutual quarrels 
to carry on their own designs, to prevent which, the electors and 
elected for parliament men, are to be beforehand engaged to comply 
with their wicked desires, and the returns are to be made by Popish 
sheriffs, and mayors of towns, so that this only remedy of a free 
parliament is hereby made impracticable. 

"And to crown all, there are great and violent presumptions, 
inducing their Highnesses to believe that these evil counsellors to 
gain more time to carry on their ill designs for encouraging their 
accomplices, and discouraging all the good subjects, they have 
published, that the Queen hath brought forth a son, though there 
appeared, both during the Queen's pretended bigness, and in the 
manner in which the birth was managed, so many just and visible 
grounds of suspicion, that not only their Highnesses, but all the 
good subjects of this kingdom, vehemently suspect . that the pre- 
tended Prince of Wales was not born of the Queen ; and since 
their Highnesses have both so great an interest in this matter, and 
such a right, as all the world knows, to the succession of the crown, 
and since the English nation had ever testified a most particular 
affection and esteem to them both ; their Highnesses cannot excuse 
themselves from espousing their interests in a matter of such high 
consequence, and from contributing all that in them lies, for the 
maintaining both of the Protestant religion, and of the laws and 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



69 



liberties of those kingdoms, and for securing to them the continual 
enjoyment of all their just rights : to the doing of which, his 
Highness is most earnestly solicited by a great many lords, both 
spiritual and temporal, and by many gentlemen, and other subjects 
of all ranks. 

" Therefore it is, that his Highness hath thought fit to go over 
into England, and to carry over a force sufficient by the blessing of 
God to defend him from the violence of those evil counsellors ; his 
Highness declaring, that this expedition is intended for no other 
design, but to have a free and lawful parliament assembled as soon 
as it is possible, and that in order thereto, all the late charters, 
limiting of elections, contrary to ancient custom, shall be considered 
as null and of no force, and all magistrates to return to their former 
employments, and particularly the ancient charter of London, to be 
again in force ; and none to be suffered to choose or be chosen par- 
liament men, but those qualified by law : and that the members of 
parliament so chosen^ shall sit in full freedom for making law r s to 
secure the Protestant religion, and to establish a good agreement 
between the church of England, and all Protestant dissenters ; as 
also, for the securing and covering of Papists, and all others, who 
will live peaceably from all persecution for religion, and for doing 
all other things, which the two houses of parliament shall find 
necessary for the peace, honour, and safety of the nation, so that 
there may be no more danger of the nation's falling at any time 
hereafter under arbitrary government; to which parliament his 
Highness will also refer the inquiry into the birth of the pretended 
Prince of Wales, and of all things relating to it, and to the right of 
succession. 

" And his Highness declares, that for his part he will concur in 
every thing that may produce the peace and happiness of the nation, 
which a free and lawful parliament shall determine, since his High- 
ness hath nothing before his eyes in this his undertaking, but the 
preservation of the Protestant religion, the covering of all men from 
persecution for their consciences, and the securing to the whole 
nation the free enjoyment of all their laws, rights and liberties 
under a just and legal government. 

" His Highness further declares, that this is the design he has 
proposed in appearing upon this occasion in arms ; in the conduct 
of which, his Highness would keep the forces under his command, 
under all the strictness of martial discipline, and take a special care 
that the people of the countries, through which he shall march, shall 



70 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



not suffer by their means ; and as soon as the state of the nation will 
permit it, his Highness promises, that he will send back all those 
foreign troops that he hath brought along with him ; his Highness 
does therefore hope, that all people will judge rightly of his pro- 
ceedings ; though he does chiefly rely on the blessing of God, for the 
success of this his undertaking, in which he places his whole and 
only confidence. 

" Lastly, his Highness doth invite and require all persons what- 
soever, all the peers of the realm, both spiritual and temporal, all 
lords, lieutenants, deputy-lieutenants, and all gentlemen citizens, 
and other commons of all ranks, to come and assist him, in order to 
the executing of this his design, against all such as shall endeavour 
to oppose him ; that so, all those miseries which must needs follow, 
upon the nation's being kept under arbitrary government and 
slavery, may be prevented, and that all the violences and disorders, 
which have overturned the whole constitution of the English govern- 
ment, may be fully redressed in a free and legal parliament : his 
Highness likewise resolving, that as soon as the nations are brought 
to a state of quiet, he will take care that a parliament shall be 
called in Scotland, for restoring the ancient constitution of that 
kingdom, and for bringing the matters of religion to such a settle- 
ment, that the people may be easy and happy, and for putting an 
end to all the unjust violences, that have been, in a course of so 
many years, committed there ; and that his Highness will also study 
to bring the kingdom of Ireland to such a state, that the settlement 
there may be religiously observed, and that the Protestant and 
British interest may be secured, and will endeavour, by all possible 
means, to procure such an establishment in all the three king- 
doms, that they may all live in a happy union and correspondence 
together, and that the Protestant religion, and the peace and 
happiness of these nations may be established upon lasting foun- 
dations." 

Soon after, his Highness published an additional declaration to 
this effect : 

" That after he had prepared and printed the former declaration, 
his Highness understood that the subverters of the religion and laws 
of the kingdom, hearing of his preparations to assist the people 
against them, had began to retract some of their arbitrary and 
despotic powers, and vacated some unjust judgments and decrees, 
occasioned by the sense of their guilt, and the distrust, of their force, 
hoping thereby, to quiet the people, and divert them from demand- 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



71 



ingf the re-establishment of their religion and laws, under the shelter 
of his Highness's arms ; and do also give out, that his Highness 
intended to conquer and enslave the nation : though his Highness is 
confident that no persons can have such hard thoughts of him, as to 
imagine that he hath any other design in this undertaking than to 
procure a settlement of religion and of the liberties and properties 
of the subject upon so sure a foundation, that there may be no dan- 
ger of the nations relapsing into the like miseries at any time here- 
after, and as the forces that his Highness brought along with him, 
are utterly disproportioned to that wicked design of conquering the 
nation, if he were capable of intending it ; so the great numbers of 
the principal nobility and gentry that are men of eminent quality 
and estates, and of known integrity and zeal for the religion and 
government of England who do accompany, and have earnestly soli- 
cited his Highness to this expedition, will cover him from all such 
malicious insinuations ; since it cannot be imagined that these should 
join in a wicked attempt of conquest to make void their own lawful 
titles to their honours, estates and interests. His Highness is like^ 
wise confident, that all men see how little weight is to be laid on all 
the promises and engagements that can be now made, since there has 
been so little regard had to them in times past ; and the imperfect 
redress that is now offered, as it is a plain confession of the violations 
of the government, which his Highness hath set forth, so the defect 
thereof appears, since they lay down nothing but what they can 
take up at pleasure, still reserving entire their claims and pretences 
to that absolute power, which has been the root of all their oppres- 
sion, and the subversion of the government ; and it is plain, there 
can be no remedy, no redress but in parliament, by a declaration of 
the rights of the subjects that have been invaded, and not by any 
pretended Acts of Grace, to which the extremity of their affairs 
has driven them ; therefore it is that his Highness hath thought fit to 
declare, that he will refer all to a free assembly of this nation in a 
lawful parliament." 

His Highness likewise sent the following letter to all the officers 
and seamen of the English fleet ; 6 Gentlemen and friends, we have 
published a declaration, containing a full and true account of our 
intentions in this expedition ; since it is evident that the Papists 
have resolved the total extirpation of the Protestant religion in 
Great Britain, and will infallibly reduce you to the same condition 
in which you see France, if they can once get the upper hand. You 
are now at last sensible, that you are made use of only as instru- 



72 THE HISTORY OF THE 

merits to bring this nation under Popery and slavery, by means of 
the Irish, and other foreigners, that are assembling for your destruc- 
tion. Therefore we hope that Almighty God will inspire you with 
such thoughts as may facilitate your deliverance, and preserve you, 
your country and religion from all these impending miseries. And 
whereas, in all probability, this can never be effected, unless you 
join with us, who labour for your deliverance, we do expect your 
assistance herein : and shall always remember, &c.' 

The Prince sent a letter also to the King's army to the same 
purpose, intimating to them, what they might expect both from the 
cashiering of all the Protestant and English officers and soldiers in 
Ireland, and by the Irish being brought over to be put in their 
places, when it should be thought convenient for themselves to be 
turned out ; hoping withal that they would not be abused by a false 
notion of honour, but would consider what they owed to God, their 
religion and their country, themselves and their posterity, which 
were to be preferred before all private considerations and engage- 
ments whatsoever. 

Whilst his Highness continued at Exeter, the King seemed very 
resolute at London to oppose him in person, mustering his army at 
Hounslow heath, and beating up for volunteers in the streets, 
though with little success; he then sent for the Bishops, whom he 
had lately so contemptuously used, to advise him what measures to 
take in this exigency, who accordingly came in a body, and the 
Archbishop of Canterbury in the name of the rest delivered himself, 
to this effect : 6 That it was necessary for him to restore all things 
to the state wherein he found them, when he came to the crown, by 
committing all offices of trust to those qualified by law, and to redress 
such grievances as were generally complained of; to put an effectual 
stop to all dispensations, and recal and cancel those which had been 
obtained of him: To dissolve the ecclesiastical commission, and 
promise the people never to erect the like for the future. To restore 
the universities to their legal state, particularly both the Magdalen 
colleges, and not permit any to enjoy preferment, but those qualified 
by the statutes of the university and laws of the land. To suppress 
the Jesuits' schools, and grant no more licenses to such, being appa- 
rently against law, and his own interest. To send inhibitions after 
those four Romish bishops, who under the title of apostolic vicars, 
presumed to exercise illegal jurisdiction within the kingdom ; to 
suffer no more Quo Warranto's against corporations, and to restore 
those charters, which had been taken away. To fill up the vacant 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



73 



bishopricks with persons qualified by law. To act no more by 
virtue of a dispensing power, but permit it to be settled by act of 
parliament. That upon the restoration of corporations, he would 
call a free parliament and suffer them to sit. to redress grievances, 
Lastly, to permit the bishops to lay such motives and arguments 
before him, as bv the blessing of God might bring him back to the 
communion of the Church of England, into whose Catholic faith, 
he had been baptized.' Xot long after the Lords spiritual and tem- 
poral, presented the King the following petition: 

M We, your Majesty's most loyal subjects, in a deep sense of the 
miseries of a war, now breaking forth in the bowels of this your 
kingdom, and of the danger to which your Majesty's sacred person 
is thereby like to be exposed, and also of the distractions of your 
people, by reason of their present grievances, do think ourselves 
bound in conscience of the duty we owe to God, and our holy reli- 
gion, to your Majesty and our country, most humbly to offer to your 
Majesty, that, in our opinion, the only visible way to preserve 
your Majesty, and this your kingdom, would be the calling of a 
parliament, regular and free in all its circumstances. We, there- 
fore, do most earnestly beseech your Majesty, that you would be 
graciously pleased, with all speed, to call such a parliament, wherein 
we shall be most ready to promote such councils, and resolutions of 
peace, and settlements in church and state, as may conduce to your 
Majestv's honour and safety, and to the quieting the minds of your 
people. 

u We do likewise humbly beseech your Majesty, in the mean 
time, to use such means for the preventing the effusion of chris- 
tian blood, as to your Majesty shall seem most meet. 

" And your petitioners shall ever pray, &c. 
W. Cant, Nom. Ebor, 

Grafton, W t . Asaph, 

Ormond, Fran. Elt, 

Dorset, Tho. Roffen, 

Clare, Th. Petriburg, 

Clarendon, T. Oxon, 
Burlington, Paget, 
Anglesey, Ciiandois, 
Rochester, Osulston." 
Newport, 

Presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Archbishop of 
York elect, the Bishop of Ely, and the Bishop of Rochester, thp 



n 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



17th of November, 1688. To which the King returned the follow- 
ing* answer. 

" My Lords, 

" What you ask of me I most passionately desire ; and I promise 
you, upon the faith of a King, that I will have a parliament, and 
such a one as you ask for, as soon as ever the Prince of Orange has 
quitted this realm ; for how is it possible a parliament should be free 
in all its circumstances, as you petition for, whilst an enemy is in 
the kingdom, and can make a return of near an hundred voices ?" 

His Highness lay some days at Exeter, expecting that such gen- 
tlemen as resided nearest his court should have come to him sooner 
than those at a distance, but finding something of an unexpected 
slowness, he could not forbear to signify some little resentment to 
some of the principal gentlemen of Somersetshire and Devonshire, 
that came to join him, on the 15th of November, 1688, in the fol- 
lowing speech: 

" Though we know not all your persons, yet we have a catalogue 
of your names, and remember the character of your worth and in- 
terest in your country. You see we are come according to your in- 
vitation and our promise. Our duty to God obliges us to protect 
the Protestant religion, and our love to mankind, your liberties and 
properties. We expected you that dwelt so near the place of our 
landing, would have joined us sooner; not that it is now too late, 
nor that we want your military assistance, so much as your counte- 
nance and presence, to justify our declared pretensions, rather than 
accomplish our good and gracious designs. Though we have 
brought both a good fleet and a good army to render these king- 
doms happy, by rescuing all Protestants from Popery, slavery, and 
arbitrary power ; by restoring them to their rights and properties 
established by law ; and by promoting of peace and trade, which is the 
soul of government, and the very life blood of a nation ; yet we rely 
more on the goodness of God and the justice of our cause, than on 
any human force and power whatever. Yet since God is pleased 
we shall make use of humane means, and not expect miracles, for 
our preservation and happiness, let us not neglect making use of 
this gracious opportunity, but, with prudence and courage, put 
in execution our honourable purposes. Therefore, gentlemen, 
friends, and fellow Protestants, we bid you and all your followers 
most heartily welcome to our court and camp. Let the whole world 
now judge if our pretensions are not just, generous, sincere, and 
above price^ since we might have even a bridge of gold to return 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



75 



back ; but it is our principle and resolution rather to die in a good 
cause than live in a bad one, well knowing that virtue and true ho- 
nour is its own reward, and the happiness of mankind our great 
and only design." 

But quickly after his Highness found the English nobility and 
gentry no less faithful to him than he had been to them, and that 
his several declarations had the wished effect. The Lord Wharton 
and the Lord Colchester, with a strong party, marched through 
Oxford to his Highness's camp without opposition. The Lord 
Lovelace, with another party out of Oxfordshire, got as far as Ci- 
rencester, but were opposed, and himself taken prisoner by the 
county militia; yet his whole party, except four or five that were 
slain or maimed in the skirmish, broke their way through, and his 
Lordship was soon after released out of Gloucester prison by a 
young gentleman of that county, who took up arms for the Prince, 
and drove out all the Popish crew that were settled in that city. 
The Lord Delamere having raised a considerable force in Cheshire, 
advanced to Nottingham to join the gentlemen of that county, who 
were ready to receive him ; and on the 22d of November, at the 
rendezvous there, the following declaration was published : 

" We, the nobility, gentry, and commonalty of these northern 
counties, assembled together at Nottingham, for the defence of the 
laws, religion, and properties, according to those free-born liber- 
ties and privileges, descended to us from our ancestors, as the un- 
doubted birth-right of the subjects of this kingdom of England, 
(not doubting but the infringers and invaders of our rights will re- 
present us to the rest of the nation in the most malicious dress they 
can put upon us,) do here unanimously think it our duty to declare 
to the rest of our Protestant fellow-subjects, the grounds of our pre- 
sent undertaking. 

" We are, by innumerable grievances, made sensible, that the 
very fundamentals of our religion, liberties, and properties, are 
about to be rooted out by our late Jesuitical privy council, as hath 
been of late too apparent. 1. By the King's dispensing with all the 
established laws at his pleasure. 2. By displacing all officers out of 
all offices of trust and advantage, and placing others in their room 
that are known Papists, deservedly made incapable by the esta- 
blished laws of our land. 3. By destroying the charters of most 
corporations in the land. 4. By discouraging all persons that are 
not Papists, preferring such as turn to Popery. 5. By displacing 
all honest and conscientious judges, unless they would, contrary to 



76 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



their consciences, declare that to be law which was merely arbitrary. 
6. By branding all men with the name of rebels that but offered 
to justify the laws, in a legal course, against the arbitrary proceed- 
ings of the King, or any of his corrupt ministers. 7. By burdening 
the nation with an army, to maintain the violation of the rights of 
the subjects. 8. By discountenancing the established reformed re- 
ligion. 9. By forbidding the subjects the benefit of petitioning, 
and construing them libellers, so rendering the laws a nose of wax 
to serve their arbitrary ends ; and many more such like, too long 
here too enumerate. 

" We being thus made sadly sensible of the arbitrary and tyran- 
nical government that is, by the influence of Jesuitical councils, 
coming upon us, do unanimously declare, that not being willing to 
deliver our posterity over to such a condition of Popery and slavery, 
as the aforesaid oppressions inevitably threaten, we will, to the ut- 
most of our power, oppose the same, by joining with the Prince of 
Orange, (whom we hope God Almighty hath sent to rescue us from 
the oppressions aforesaid,) will use our utmost endeavours for the 
recovery of our almost ruined laws, liberties, and religion ; and 
herein we hope all good Protestant subjects will, with their lives 
and fortunes, be assistant to us, and not be bugbeared with the op- 
probrious terms of rebels, by which they would fright us to become 
perfect slaves to their tyrannical insolencies and usurpations ; for we 
assure ourselves, that no rational and unbiassed person will judge 
it rebellion to defend our laws and religion, which all our Princes 
have sworn at their coronations ; which oath, how well it hath been 
observed of late, we desire a free parliament may have the consi- 
deration of. 

" We own it rebellion to resist a King that governs by law; but 
he was always accounted a tyrant that made his will the law ; and 
to resist such a one we justly esteem no rebellion, but a necessary 
defence ; and in this consideration we doubt not of all honest men's 
assistance, and humbly hope for and implore the great God's pro- 
tection, that turneth the hearts of his people as pleaseth him best, 
it having been observed, that people can never be of one mind 
without his inspiration, which hath in all ages confirmed that ob- 
servation, 6 Vox populi est vox Dei.' 

" The present restoring of charters, and reversing the oppressing 
and unjust judgment given on Magdalen College Fellows, is plain, 
are but to still the people, like plums to children, by deceiving 
them for awhile j but if they shall by this stratagem be fooled, till 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



17 



this present storm that threatens the Papists be passed, as soon as 
they shall be resettled, the former oppression will be put on with 
greater vigour ; but we hope in vain is the net spread in the sight 
of the birds, for, 1. The Papists' old rule is, that faith is not to be 
kept with heretics, as they term Protestants, though the Popish re- 
ligion is the greatest heresie ; and, 2. Queen Mary's so ill observ- 
ing her promises to the Suffolk men that helped her to her throne ; 
and above al), 3. The Pope's dispensing with the breach of oaths, 
treaties, or promises, at his pleasure, when it makes for the service 
of holy church, as they term it. These, we say, are such convincing 
reasons to hinder us from giving credit to the aforesaid mock 
shews of redress, that we think ourselves bound in conscience to 
rest on no security that shall not be approved by a freely elected par- 
liament, to whom, under God, we refer our cause." 

The Lord Delamere being assured of the resolution and cou- 
rageous zeal of all his followers, continued awhile in those parts to 
watch the motions of the Papists in Lancashire, who began to take 
arms under the Lord Molineux, and for a time assisted to guard 
Chester for the King ; but, upon the surprizal of that garrison for 
the Prince, were soon after beaten, or rather run away out of the 
town, and disbanded of themselves. In the north the Earl of 
Danby, the Lord Fairfax, and other persons of quality seized upon 
the city of York, and turned out the Lord Mayor and other magis- 
trates that were Papists or ill-affected. Colonel Copley, the de- 
puty-governor of Hull, seized upon all the guards of that garrison, 
and, with the assistance of some of the townsmen and some seamen, 
made the Lord Langdale, the governor, and the Lord Montgo- 
mery, the Marquis of Powis, his sons, prisoners, till he had se- 
cured the citadel, wherein was a plentiful magazine of powder and 
all sorts of provisions, with a train of artillery ready fixed to be 
drawn out into the field. Plymouth also, with the Earl of Hun- 
tington and all the Popish officers and soldiers was seized by the 
Earl of Bath for his Highness, and at the same time all the chief sea- 
port towns in Cornwall declared for the Prince, so that there was 
no enemy behind him to disturb the rear of his advancing army. 

But the King, being as yet in hopes to force his way through all 
the great opposition made him by the whole kingdom, having sent 
his army before to Salisbury, went thither to them ; yet, before he 
went, he thought it requisite to provide for the safety of the pre- 
tended Prince of Wales, and not daring to trust to the validity of 
the aforementioned affidavits, for more security he sent him away 



78 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



with a strong guard to Portsmouth, that, if things went ill, he should 
be conveyed over to France. When the King came to Salisbury 
he began to bleed at the nose, and was observed to continue bleed- 
ing for some time, which seemed, at that time, ominous to him ; but 
in the midst of these surprizes more ill news arrived to increase his 
astonishment ; for, besides the Lord Cornbury, who had carried off a 
considerable party of horse to the Prince some time before, several 
other regiments of foot had now deserted, and were gone the same 
way. Upon his arrival near to Salisbury, he was met by the Duke 
of Berwick, the Earl of Feversham, and several other officers on 
horseback, and by them attended to the gates of the town, being 
met by the mayor and aldermen in their formalities, and conducted 
to the bishop's palace; but these flattering appearances soon va- 
nished, he quickly perceiving that his English forces were generally 
dissatisfied, and seemed unwilling to engage in civil bloodshed 
against their own countrymen and of their own religion, which was 
to fight with their bodies against their consciences, and likewise dis- 
covered the discontents of the people, who supplied the machels 
very sparingly for his army, so that not judging himself safe among 
them, and upon a false alarm that Marshal Schomberg was within 
thirty or twenty miles of him, he returned back in all haste to 
Windsor, and from thence to London, being extremely discouraged 
that Prince George and the Lord Churchill were gone both to the 
Prince, and that the Princess Ann of Denmark was also retired 
from the court. The Prince of Denmark and the Lord Churchill left 
each of them the following letters behind them, directed to the King : 
« Sir, 

" With a heart full of grief am I forced to write, what pru- 
dence will not permit me to say to your face; and may I ever find 
credit with your Majesty and protection from heaven, as what I 
now do is free from passion, vanity, or design, with which actions 
of this nature are too often accompanied. I am not ignorant of the 
frequent mischiefs wrought in the world by factious pretences of re- 
ligion ; but were not religion the most justifiable cause, it would 
not be made the most specious pretence; and your Majesty has al- 
ways shewn too uninterested a sense of religion, to doubt the just 
effects of it in one, whose practices have, I hope, never given the 
world cause to censure his real conviction of it, or his backward- 
ness to perform what his honour and conscience prompt him to. 
How then can I longer disguise my just concern for that religion, 
in which 1 have been so happily educated, which my judgment 



HOUSE OF ORANGE, 



79 



thoroughly convinces me to be the best; and for the support of 
which, I am so highly interested in my native country ; and is not 
England, now, by the most endearing tie, become so ? 

" Whilst the restless spirits of the enemies of the reformed religion, 
backed by the cruel zeal of France, justly alarm and unite aD the 
Protestant Princes of Christendom, and engage them in so vast an 
expense for the support of it, can I act so degenerous and mean a 
part, as to deny my concurrence to such worthy endeavours for 
disabusing of your Majesty by the reinforcement of those laws, and 
establishment of that government, on which alone depends the well- 
t>eing of your Majesty, and the Protestant religion in Europe. This, 
sir, is that irresistable and only cause, that could come in competition 
with my duty and obligations with your Majesty, and be able to tear 
me from you, whilst the same affectionate desire of serving you 
continues in me. Could I secure your person by the hazard of my 
life, I should think it could not be better employed : and would to 
God, these your distracted kingdoms might yet receive that satis- 
factory compliance from your Majesty in all their justifiable pre- 
tensions, as might upon the only sure foundation, that of love and 
interests of your subjects, establish your government, and as 
strongly unite the hearts of all your subjects to you, as is that of, 
sir, your Majesty's most humble, and most obedient son and 
servant." 

The Lord Churchill's letter ran thus : " Sir, men are seldom sus- 
pected of sincerity, when they act contrary to their interests ; and 
though my dutiful behaviour to your Majesty in the worst of times, 
(for which 1 acknowledge my poor services much over-paid) mav 
not be sufficient to incline you to a charitable interpretation of ray 
actions, yet I hope, the great advantage I enjoy under your Majesty, 
which I can never expect in any other change of government, may 
reasonably convince your Majesty and the world, that I am actuated 
by a higher principle, when I offer that violence to my inclination 
and interest, as to desert your Majesty at a time when your affairs 
seem to challenge the strictest obedience from all your subjects, 
much more from one who lies under the greatest personal obligations 
imaginable to your Majesty. This, sir, could proceed from nothing 
but the inviolable dictates of my conscience, and necessary concern 
for my religion, (which no good man can oppose) and with which I 
am instructed, nothing ought to come in competition ; heaven knows 
with what partiality my dutiful opinion of your Majesty hath 
hitherto represented those unhappy designs, which inconsiderate 



80 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



and self-interested men have framed against your Majesty's true 
interest and Protestant religion. But as 1 can no longer join with 
such to give a pretence by conquest to bring them to effect, so will 
I always with the hazard of my life and fortune (so much your 
Majesty's due) endeavonr to preserve your royal person and lawful 
rights, with all the tender concern and dutiful respect that becomes, 
sir, your Majesty's most dutiful, and most obliged subject and 
servant." 

The Princess Ann of Denmark likewise directed the following 
letter to the Queen, upon her withdrawing : 
" Madam, 

u I beg your pardon if I am so deeply affected with the sur- 
prising news of the Prince's being gone, as not to be able to see 
you, but to leave this paper to express my humble duty to the King 
and yourself ; and to let you know that I am gone to absent myself 
to avoid the King's displeasure, which I am not able to bear either 
against the Prince or myself; and I shall stay at so great a distance, 
as not to return before I hear the happy news of a reconcilement : 
and as I am confident the Prince did not leave the King with any 
other design, than to use all possible means for his preservation, so 
I hope you will do me the justice to believe, that 1 am incapable of 
following him for any other end. Never was any one in such an 
unhappy condition, so divided between duty and affection to a 
father, and a husband ; and therefore I know not what to do but to 
follow one to preserve the other. I see the general falling off of the 
nobility and gentry, who avow to have no other end, than to prevail 
with the King to secure their religion, which they saw in so much 
danger by the violent counsels of the priests ; who, to promote their 
own religion, did not care to what dangers they exposed the King. 
I am fully persuaded that the Prince of Orange designs the King's 
safety and preservation, and hope all things may be composed with- 
out more bloodshed, by the calling a parliament : God grant a 
happy end to these troubles, that the King's reign maybe prosperous, 
and that I may shortly meet you in perfect peace and safety ; till 
when, let me beg you to continue the same favourable opinion 
that you have hitherto had of your most obedient daughter and 
servant, , ANN." 

The King now issued out a proclamation of pardon to all his 
subjects, that had taken up arms under the Prince, if they returned 
in twenty days ; but very few, or none came back : and about the 
same time, a party of the Prince's men being abroad, and advancing 



HOUSE OF ORANGE, 



Si 



beyond their strength, were pursued and charged by Colonel Sars- 
field with seventy horse, and thirty dragoons and grenadiers, who 
overtaking thein at Wincanton, they posted themselves behind the 
hedges ; whereupon, the King's party dismounted, and marched up 
to them, and they began to fire briskly, several being killed and 
wounded : but Colonel Sarsfield getting into the field with his 
horse, and charging them in the rear, they were most of them killed 
or taken prisoners ; Lieutenant Campbell, who commanded them, 
being slain : and of the King's party, four were killed, and Cornet 
Webb mortally wounded. This slender success was soon damped by 
an address from the fleet, for a free parliament ; which now began 
to grow cold in his service, and the continual desertions of his army ; 
so that the King not thinking it convenient to hazard a battle with 
them, upon the approach of the Prince's forces, with whom now 
were a great part of the nobility, he recalled his remainder of them, 
with his train of artillery : and upon his return to Whitehall, he 
appointed Colonel Beril Skelton to be lieutenant of the Tower, in 
the place of Sir Edward Hales : and in pursuance of the advice of 
the lords, spiritual and temporal, ordered the Chancellor Jefferies 
to issue out writs for summoning a parliament to sit, January 15, 
following ; the Bishop of Exeter, who left the city upon the ap- 
proach of the Prince, was likewise nominated Archbishop of York, 
which had been vacant for some time, and was thought to have been 
designed for Father Peters, if things had gone on. But the King's 
affairs growing daily more desperate, and the Prince of Orange 
marching forward with his army : and being advanced to Hunger- 
ford, after a consultation with the Queen, and the Jesuits, it was 
resolved to send the following proposals of accommodation to his 
Highness, which were soon after published with the Prince's answer 
thereto. 

" Whereas, on the 8th of December. 1688, at Hungerford, a 
paper, signed by the Marquis of Halifax, the Earl of Nottingham, 
and the Lord Godolphin, Commissioners sent unto us from his 
Majesty, was delivered to us in these words, following : viz. 
, "Sir, 

u The King commandeth us to acquaint you, that he observeth 
all the differences, and causes of complaint, alleged by your High- 
ness, seem to be referred to a free parliament. His Majesty, as he 
hath already declared, was resolved before this, to call one, but 
thought that, in the present state of affairs, it was advisable to 
defer it till things were more composed. Yet seeing that hispeonl' 

M 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



still continue to desire it, he hath put forth his proclamation in order 
to it, and hath issued forth his writs for the calling of it. And to 
prevent any cause of interruption in it, he will consent to every 
thing that can be reasonably required for the security of all those 



your Highness, for the adjusting of all matters that shall be agreed 
to be necessary to the freedom of elections, and the security of 
sitting, and is ready immediately to enter into a treaty, in order to 
it. His Majesty proposeth, that in the mean time the respective 
armies may be restrained within such limits, and at such a distance 
from London, as may prevent the apprehensions that the parliament 
may in any kind be disturbed, being desirous, that the meeting of it 
may be no longer delayed than it must be by the usual and necessary 
forms." Signed, Halifax, Nottingham, Godolphin. 

u We, with the advice of the lords and gentlemen assembled with 
us, have in answer to the same, made these following proposals: 
1. That all Papists, and such persons as are not qualified by law, be 
disarmed, disbanded, and removed from all employments, civil and 
military. 2. That all proclamations which reflect upon us, or any 
that have come to us, or declared for us, be recalled ; and that if any 
persons for having so assisted, have been committed,, that they be 
forthwith set at liberty. 3. That for the security and safety of the 
city of London, the custody and government of the Tower be im- 
mediately put into the hands of the said city. 4. That if his 
Majesty shall think fit to be at London, during the sitting of the 
parliament, that we may be there also, with an equal number of our 
guards ; or if his Majesty shall please to be in any place from 
London, at whatever distance he thinks fit, that we may be at a 
place of the same distance. And that the respective armies do 
remove from London thirty miles, and that no more foreign forces 
be brought into the kingdom. 5. That for the security of the city 
of London, and their trade, Tilbury Fort be put into the hands of 
the said city. 6. That to prevent the landing of French or other 
foreign troops, Portsmouth may be put into such hands, as by your 
Majesty and us shall be agreed upon. 7. That some sufficient part 
of the public revenue be assigned us, for the maintaining of our 
forces, until the meeting of a free parliament." 

But these proposals of the Prince, proving of too hard digestion 
at Whitehall, the offer of accommodation was thought to be de- 
signed only to gain time : and the Romish counsellors perceiving 
that this would not obtain, began to think of other measures; so 




therefore sent us to attend 



HOUSE OF ORANGE 



S3 



that the child being sent for back from Portsmouth to Whitehall in 
great haste, the Queen haying made up her equipage. December 10 ; 
took her solemn leave of the King, and with the pretended Prince 
of Wales, and her attendants, whereof it is said Father Peters was 
one, but it was thought, with a large proportion of treasure and 
jewels ; she crossed the water at Lambeth, where three coaches 
with six horses awaited them, and with a strong guard went to 
Greenwich, and so to Gravesend ; where she and her retinue, em- 
barked in a yacht for France, and landed the next day about four 
o'clock in the afternoon ; the Queen and several courtiers being 
gone, the Popish Priests began to shift for themselves: and the 
same night the King called an extraordinary council, and sent for 
the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London, charging them to preserve 
the peace and quiet of the city, as much as in them lay, after which, 
they were dismissed : but the council continued their debates upon 
the present exigency of affairs, a great while longer, and were 
ordered to meet again the next morning : when to'the surprize of the 
city and kingdom, about three o'clock in the morning, the King took 
barge at the privy stairs, with a small equipage, and went down the 
river, without being so much as known to many of the officers of 
his household, who were then in waiting ; whose sudden departure 
may be supposed to be occasioned by the news that alarmed the 
court the -day before, that the Prince's forces had made their way 
through Reading, and gained the pass of Twyford-bridge, without 
any considerable resistance: for about fifteen hundred horse, and 
three troops of dragoons being quartered in the town of Reading, 
they had notice that a detachment of the Prince's army were march- 
ing up toward them, which put them into such a consternation, that 
not finding themselves strong enough to maintain the town, the 
officers upon consultation, concluded to draw off, and make good 
their post at Twyford-bridge : but their scouts coming in with news 
that the roads were clear, the commander ordered a Scotch regiment 
of horse, and the Irish dragoons to march back, and re-possess 
themselves of Reading, which they did, and were placed in the 
market-place and other posts, continuing on horseback the most 
part of the night, to prevent surprize: yet hearing no more of the 
Prince's advanced party, their officer- ordered them to alight, and 
refresh themselves and their horses ; but about ten in the morning, 
the trumpet sounded to horse, the Prince's forces being at the town - 
end. almost before thev were discovered ; and thereupon. shnrr- 
firing began on both sides, the Irish dragoons bearing the brunt m 

m S 



84 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



the encounter; and though the Scotch horse, in small detached 
bodies, made some fire, yet they were overpowered, driven out of 
the town, and obliged to retreat to /Twy ford -bridge ; and at length, 
many of the King's party deserted, and the rest were constrained to 
quit the pass, and make the best of their retreat ; there being about 
thirty killed, and several wounded in this skirmish. 

Upon this ill success, and the King having no considerable forces 
left, the day before his going away, he sent a letter to his general, 
the Earl of Feversham to this effect ; " That things being come to 
that extremity, that he had been forced to send away the Queen and 
his son, the Prince of Wales, lest they should fall into his enemy's 
hands, he was resolved to secure himself the best way he could ; 
that if he could have relied on all his troops, he was resolved to 
have had at least one blow for it ; but that his lordship knew, that 
both his lordship and several of the general officers of the army 
had told him, that it was not safe to venture himself at the head of 
his troops, or to think to fight the Prince of Orange with them ; 
and therefore, it only remained for him to thank those officers and 
soldiers that had been truly loyal to him, not expecting they should 
farther expose themselves in resisting a foreign enemy, and a 
poisoned nation." In pursuance of this letter, the Earl of Fever- 
sham sent another to his Highness the Prince of Orange, to let him 
understand, " That he had received a letter from the King, with 
the unfortunate news of his resolution, to go out of England, and 
he was actually gone, with orders to make no opposition against any 
one; which he thought convenient to let his Highness know, as 
soon as it was possible, to hinder the effusion of blood, having 
already given orders to that purpose to all the troops under his 
command : which would be the last order they should receive from 
him, &c. 

The King's departure being publicly known, the multitude got 
together in divers places, as is usual in such disturbances, and dis- 
solutions of government, spoiling and demolishing the new-erected 
mass houses and chapels ; pulling down, burning and destroying all 
before them ; they plucked down the new convent for Monks, at 
St. John's, which had been two years in building, at vast expense, 
and burnt the greatest part of the timber and materials in Smithfield, 
having before seized upon the goods, as they were removing, and 
burnt them in Holborn ; they likewise defaced the chapels in Lime- 
street, and Lincoln's-Inn fields, with that of the Spanish ambas- 
dor's ? at Wild-house : where some common thieves mixing with the 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



85 



more harmless boys, they got great store of plunder in plate, money, 
and rich goods ; they likewise committed violences at the lodgings 
of the resident of the Duke of Florence, and much defaced the 
dwelling-houses of several eminent Papists, who were fled for fear 
of being secured, and though the magistrates laboured to quiet these 
tumults and disorders, yet they found their authority too weak, till 
the mobile had in some measure vented their rage, they being grown 
so numerous, that neither the watches nor trained bands, thought 
it safe to oppose their fury. 

Therefore, for redress of these mischiefs, the lords, spiritual and 
temporal, then in town, repaired to Guildhall, and sending for 
Colonel Skelton, then lieutenant of the Tower, demanded the keys, 
which being by him readily resigned, they committed the charge of 
that important place, to the Lord Lucas, a person of known honour 
and integrity to his country ; nor were they less active, in suppressing 
those lawless rioters : so thas in a short time, they were all dispersed 
and quelled, and some of the principal committed to prison ; and 
then taking into consideration, the great and dangerous conjuncture 
of the time, in regard of the King's having withdrawn himself, 
they drew up a declaration to this effect : — " That they did reasonably 
hope, that the King having issued out his proclamation, and writs 
for calling a free parliament, they might have rested securely under 
the expectation of that meeting, but that the King having withdrawn 
himself, as they apprehended, in order to his departure out of the 
kingdom, by the pernicious councils of persons ill affected to the 
nation, they cannot without being wanting to their duty, be silent 
under the calamities, wherein the Popish councils which have so 
long prevailed, had miserably involved them ; and therefore unani- 
mously resolved to apply themselves to his Highness the Prince of i 
Orange, who with so great kindness to these kingdoms, so vast 
expense, and so much hazard to his own person, had undertaken, 
by endeavouring to procure a free parliament, to rescue them with 
as little effusion of Christian blood, as possible, from the imminent 
dangers of Popery and slavery; declaring further, that they would 
with their utmost endeavours, assist his Highness in the obtaining 
of such a parliament with all speed; wherein their laws, liberties, 
and properties might be secured, the Church of England in parti- 
cular, with a due liberty to Protestant dissenters; and in general, 
the Protestant religion and interest, over the whole world, might be 
supported and encouraged, to the glory of God, the happiness of 



86 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



the established government, and the advantage of all Princes and 
states in Christendom, that may be therein concerned. " 

This was signed by the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, 
twenty *two temporal lords, and five bishops; and the Earl of 
Pembroke, Lord Weymouth, Lord Bishop of Ely, and the Lord 
Culpepper, were ordered to attend his Highness with the said 
declaration, at Henley upon Thames ; the same day the lord mayor, 
aldermen, and common council, assembled in the same place, "and 
drew up an humble address to be presented to his Highness in their 
names, on the behalf of the city ; of like effect with the declaration, 
four aldermen being appointed to wait upon the Prince therewith, 
and the lieutenancy of London meeting that day also, drew up an 
address to his Highness, on the behalf of themselves and the rest of 
the militia, to the like purpose, which were accordingly presented 
to the Prince, and very favourably received, imploring his Highness 
protection, and beseeching him to repair to the city ; where he 
would be received with universal satisfaction. 

The next day the tumults being somewhat allayed, search was 
made in divers places, for such as were fled from justice ; and 
among others, to the great rejoicing of the people, the Lord Chan- 
cellor JefFery's, was taken in an obscure house at Wapping, disguised 
like a sailor, and endeavouring to make his escape in a vessel that 
lay there for Hamburgh ; who being brought before the lord mayor, 
with a numerous and enraged guard of attendants, his lordship was 
suddenly seized with such a frightful indisposition, that he was 
incapable of examining the matter: so that the Chancellor was 
carried to the Tower by his own consent, to preserve himself from 
the fury of the rabble. 

Dec. 14, his Highness by easy marches came to Windsor, where 
he was received with all kind of respect and submission by the mayor 
and aldermen in their formalities, and congratulated in an elegant 
speech, the Prince of Denmark's lodgings being provided for his 
reception. Whilst his Highness was preparing for London, he had 
notice that the King designing to pass the seas in disguise, having 
betaken himself, accompanied only by two or three persons, in a 
small vessel to sea, was forced by foul weather, upon the coast of 
Kent, near Feversham, and as soon as he came to that town, was 
seized upon by the multitude, there being a report at that time, that 
several persons were making their escapes out of the land, and 
being ignorant who he was, they carried him to a house in the town, 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



87 



rifling him of some jewels, a considerable quantity of gold, and his 
crucifix, which he very much valued ; but at last, the King being 
known Ivy a gentleman who came to see the prisoners they had 
taken, and fell on his knees to pay him duty : the common people 
were strangely surprized, a great number instantly retiring, and 
others begged his pardon, offering to restore what they had taken 
from him ; but the King refused to take his gold again, giving it 
them freely : however, his person was detained till the news of his 
being there could be carried to London. 

The lords who first assembled in the city, being then at White- 
hall, and having notice of it, sent the Lords Feversham, Aylesbury, 
Yarmouth and Middleton, to the King, with their earnest desires 
that he would be pleased to return to his royal palace at London ; 
to which, though at first he shewed some unwillingness, yet being 
pressed thereto, he at length condescended-; the servants of his 
household, who went along with the lords, having brought him 
money and clothes, those he had being old, and rent in the searching 
him before he was known ; but his Highness the Prince of Orange, 
being fully determined to come to London with all speed, it was 
upon consultation thought very inconvenient, in regard it might 
create daily disputes and quarrels between the soldiers of both 
parties, and in -divers other respects for the King and himself, to 
be there at one and the same time ; therefore, upon notice of the 
King's returning, Monsieur Zulestein was sent to meet him on the 
way, and to intreat him to return to Rochester, which the King 
would certainly have done, had not Monsieur Zulestein missed him, 
by taking another road; so that the King arrived at Whitehall on 
Sunday, Dec. 16, in the evening, attended by three troops of the 
life-guard, and a troop of grenadiers, a set of boys following him 
through the city, and making some ,huzzas, while the rest of the 
people silently looked on ; from thence the King sent the Earl of 
Feversham to the Prince then at Windsor, to invite his Highness to 
come to St. James's, and take that palace as his residence, with 
what number of troops he thought convenient ; the Prince deliberating 
with the lords about this message, was advised by no means to 
accept of this invitation, and there being a necessity his Highness 
should be in town the next day, the following paper signed by the 
Prince, was ordered to be carried to the King the next day by the 
Lords therein mentioned. 

" We desire you, the Lord Marquis of Halifax, the Earl of 
Shrewsbury, and the Lord Delamere, to tell the King that it ie 



88 THE HISTORY OF TH£ 



thought convenient for the greater safety of his person, that he do 
remove to Ham, where he shall be attended by guards, who will be 
ready to preserve him from any disturbance. Given at Windsor, 
Dec. 17, 1688." 

And further to prevent the possibility of any disturbance, it was 
resolved, that his Highness's guards should be possessed of all the 
posts and avenues about Whitehall before the paper was delivered ; 
and it was computed that these guards might have reached White- 
hall by eight o'clock at night, but they were so hindered by the 
foulness of the ways, that it was past ten before they arrived, and 
there being difficulty made of withdrawing the King's guards, so 
much time was spent that the lords could not proceed in their message 
till past twelve, so that the King was in bed; but to preserve decency 
and respect, and not break hastily in upon him, they sent the Lord 
Middleton, his principal secretary of state, the following letter : 
" My Lord, 

" There is a message to be delivered to his Majesty from the 
Prince, which is of so great importance, that we who are charged 
with it, desire we may be immediately admitted, and therefore 
desire to know where we may find your lordship, that you may 
introduce, my lord, your lordship's most humble servants, &c." 

The Lord Middleton upon the receipt thereof, came and introduced 
them to the King, and their lordships having made an apology for 
coming at a time that might disturb him, the Prince's message was 
delivered to the King, who reading it said, that he would readily 
comply ; the lords as they were directed, humbly desired, that if it 
might be with his Majesty's conveniency, he would be pleased to 
remove so early, as to be at Ham by noon, thereby to prevent his 
meeting the Prince in his way to London ; to this the King readily 
agreed, and asked if he might not appoint what servants should 
attend him ; the lords replied, it was wholly left to his Majesty. 
The lords then took their leaves, but were instantly sent for back 
by the King, who told them he had forgot to acquaint them with 
his resolution before the message came, to send the Lord Godolphin 
the next morning to the Prince, to propose his going back to 
Rochester, he finding by the message Monsienr Zulestein was 
charged with, that the Prince had no mind he should be at London, 
and therefore he now desired that he might rather return to Roches- 
ter : the lords replied, that they would immediately send an account 
to the Prince, and doubted not of an answer to his satisfaction, and 
accordingly, dispatching a messenger to the Prince, who was then at 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



Sion house, the Sieur benting by eight next morning, sent a letter 
by the Prince's order, agreeing to the King's proposal, and the 
guards and barges being prepared to attend him, and his coaches 
and sumpters to follow, he reached Gravesend on the 18th in the 
evening, and passed over land in his coach, attended by the Earl 
of Arran and several others, and made his residence in Sir Ri- 
chard Head's house. 

In the afternoon of the same day, his Highness with a very splendid 
equipage, and a numerous attendance, arrived at St. James's, and 
received the congratulations of all the nobility, and persons of 
chiefest quality in the town; the people crowding to see their 
deliverer, and expressing their satisfaction at so happy a revolution, 
by ringing of bells, bonfires, and all the public demonstrations of 
joy imaginable. 

A remarkable accident happened between the King's first going 
to Rochester and his return to London, a general alarm being given 
one night about midnight, at almost one and the same time, in the 
most considerable cities and towns in England, upon pretence that 
the Irish were killing, burning, and destroying all before them, 
which seemed to be carried on industriously by persons set on pur- 
pose to spread that false report, or else it can hardly be imagined 
how it should have been done at so many distant places at once, 
which threw the people into a great surprize and consternation, till 
the day appeared and convinced them of the fallacy ; but the real 
occasion hereof was never yet generally understood. 

Upon the arrival of his Highness, the common council of London 
assembled, and unanimously agreed, that the sheriffs and all the al- 
dermen of the city, with their deputies, and two common council- 
men for each ward, should wait on and congratulate his Highness 
upon his happy arrival, in the name of the city of London, and ac- 
cordingly, on the 20th of December, the Lord Mayor being indis- 
posed by sickness, Sir George Treby, the Recorder, in a most ele- 
gant speech, thus addressed his Highness : 
M May it please your Highness, 

" The Lord Mayor being d^abled by sickness, your Highness is 
attended by the aldermen and commons of the capital city of this 
kingdom, deputed to congratulate your Highness upon this great 
and glorious occasion, in which, labouring for words, we cannot but 
come short in expression. Reviewing our late danger, we remem- 
ber our church and state overrun by Popery and arbitrary power, 

N 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



and brought to a point of destruction by ths conduct of men that 
were our true invaders, that broke the sacred fences of our laws, 
and, which was worse, the very constitution of our legislature, so 
that there was no remedy left us. The only person under heaven 
that could apply this remedy was your Highness. You are of a na- 
tion, whose alliance, in all times, has been agreeable and pros- 
perous to us; you are of a family most illustrious benefactors to 
mankind ; to have the title of Sovereign Prince, Stadtholder, and 
to have worn the imperial crown, are among their lesser dignities; 
they have long enjoyed a dignity singular and transcendent, that is, 
6 To be champions of Almighty God, sent forth in several ages to 
vindicate his cause against the greatest oppressions,' To this di- 
vine commission our nobles, our gentry, and, amongst them, our 
brave English soldiers, render themselves and their arms upon your 
appearing. 

" Great Sir! when we look back the last month, and contemplate 
the swiftness and fulness of our deliverance, astonished, we think it 
miraculous. Your Highness, led by the hand of heaven and called by 
the voice of the people, has preserved our dearest interest, the Pro- 
testant religion^ which is primitive Christianity ; restored our laws, 
which are our ancient title to our lives, liberties, and estates, and 
without which the world were a wilderness. But what retribution 
can we make to your Highness? our thoughts are full charged 
with gratitude ; your Highness has a lasting monument in the hearts, 
in the prayers, in the praises, of all good men among us, and late 
posterity will celebrate your ever glorious name till time shall be 
no more." 

At the same time the high sheriff, nobility, and gentry of the 
county of Cambridge, presented another address to his Highness, 
wherein they implored his protection and aid to rescue the nation 
from Popery and slavery, and assured him they would contribute 
their utmost endeavours for perfecting so glorious a work, returning 
his Highness their unfeigned thanks for the progress he had made 
therein, with so much cost, labour, and hazard, both by sea and land. 

But in the midst of these transactions, the King having continued 
some days at Rochester, on the 22d of December, between two and 
three in the morning, going a back way, with great secrecy and 
caution hastened to the sea side, taking only with him Mr. Ralph 
Sheldon and Mr. Delabody, with whom he embarked in a vessel 
that lay for his transportation to France, to follow his Queen, as 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



had been agreed betwixt them, leaving the following paper of 
reasons behind him, for withdrawing himself from Rochester, said 
to be written by his own hand, and ordered by him to be published, 

" The world cannot wonder at my withdrawing myself now this 
second time. 1 mi^ht have expected somewhat better usage after 
what I wrote to the Prince of Orange by my Lord Feversham, and 
the instructions I gave him ; but instead of an answer, such as I 
might have hoped for, what was I to expect after the usage 1 re- 
ceived b) the making the said Earl prisoner, against the practice and 
law of nations ? the sending his own guards at eleven at night to 
take possession of the posts at )A hitehali, without advertising me 
in the least manner of it ? the sending to me at one o'clock, 
after midnight, when I was in bed. a kind of an order, by three 
lords, to be gone out of mine own palace before twelve that same 
morning ; After all this, how could 1 hope to be safe, so long as I 
was in the power of one, who had not only done this to me, and 
invaded my kingdoms without any just occasion given him for it, 
but that did, by his first declaration, lay the greatest aspersion upon 
me that malice could invent, in that clause of it which concerns my 
son ? I appeal to all that know me, nay, even to himself, that, in 
their consciences, neither he nor they can believe me in the least 
capable of so unnatural a villainy, nor of so little common sense to 
be imposed on in a thing of such a nature as that. What had I 
then to expect from one who, by all arts, hath taken such pains to 
make me appear as black as hell to my own people, as well as to 
all the world besides ? What effect that hath had at home all man- 
kind have seen, by so general a defection in my army, as well as 
in the nation, amongst all sorts of people. 

4; 1 was both free, and desire to continue so: and though I have 
ventured my life very frankly on several occasions, for the good and 
honour of my country, and am as free to do it again, (and which I 
hope I yet shall do, as old as I am, to redeem it from the slavery 
it is like to fall under,) yet I think it not convenient to expose my- 
self to be secured, as not to be at liberty to effect it, and for that 
reason do withdraw, but so as to be within call whensoever the na- 
tion's eyes shall be opened, so as to see how they have been abused 
and imposed upon by the specious pretences of religion and pro- 
perty. I hope it will please God to touch their hearts, out of his 
infinite mercy, and to make them sensible of the ill condition they 
are in, and bring them to such a temper that a legal parliament 
may be called, and that amongst other things which may be neces- 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



sarj to be done, they will agree to liberty of conscience for all Pro- 
testant dissenters ? and that those of my own persuasion may be so 
far considered, and have such a share of it, as they may live peace- 
ably and quietly, as Englishmen and Christians ought to do, and 
not to be obliged to transplant themselves, which would be very 
grievous, especially to such as love their own country ; and I appeal 
to all men/ who are considering men, and have had experience, whe- 
ther any thing can make this nation so great and flourishing as li- 
berty of conscience ? Some of our neighbours dread it. I could 
add much more to confirm all I have said, but now is not the proper 
time. Rochester, Dec. 22, 1688." 

Upon these reasons we may make these few cursory remarks : 
that as to the detaining of the Earl of Feversham, who was sent 
without a pass in a time of open war, it maybe very well justified ; he 
having likewise disbanded the army, and left them at large to lie upon 
the country. The message for his removal from Whitehall was ma- 
naged, as we have heard, with all the respect and decency imagin- 
able, and absolutely necessary upon several accounts, as well as for 
the preservation of his own person, whose late actions, especially 
his extraordinary severity in the west, had raised him many inve- 
terate enemies, who now might have taken the opportunity of offer- 
ing violence to him ; that his Highness had sufficient reason for 
this glorious expedition the King had made the nation too sensible 
of ; and as for the business of the child, it is well known that his 
zeal for the Catholic cause made him shut his eyes to all other con- 
siderations whatsoever ; and, besides, it was managed with such a 
number of suspicious circumstances, that we are told one of his 
own commanders in Ireland should say, <c That the Prince of Orange 
had one plausible pretence for his invasion, namely, that of the 
Prince of Wales ; since, if it was a real birth, the court managed 
the matter so as if they had industriously contrived the nation 
should give no credit to it." As to his hopes of conquering us, we 
have as great hopes and better reason to believe the contrary, since 
the people will scarce be ever fond of giving up their religion, 
laws, liberties, and estates, to the will of an arbitrary Prince, or 
ever submit to a French government. As to a parliament, we may 
think he did not design to call any, since, some time before his de- 
parture, he ordered all the writs that were not sent out to be burnt, 
and a caveat to be entered against the making use of such as were 
already sent into the countries. As to liberty of conscience, which 
he seems so much to value, his proceedings in Ireland and against 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



the universities, together with his recalling the Protestant minis- 
ters from preaching to the English merchants in Popish countries, 
with many other instances that might be given, are sufficient de- 
monstrations of the reality of his intentions therein. 

Soon after we had an account that the King was arrived in 
France and gone to the court, where his Queen came some time be- 
fore, having, as soon as she landed, sent, as it is said, the following 
letter to that King : 

" An unfortunate Queen, all bathed in tears, has deemed it no 
trouble to expose herself to the greatest perils of the sea, on pur- 
pose to seek an asylum and protection in the dominions of the great- 
est and most glorious Monarch in the world; her bad fortune has 
procured her a happiness, which far distant nations have sought 
with eagerness ; nor does the necessity lessen the value, while she 
makes choice of the same sanctuary before any other that she might 
have found in any other place : she is persuaded that his Majesty 
will look upon it as a demonstration of the singular esteem she has 
of his great and royal qualities, that she intrusts him with the Prince 
of Wales, who is all she has most dear and precious in the world. 
He is too young to partake with her in the acknowledgments due 
for his protection ; that acknowledgment is entirely in the heart 
of his mother, who, in the midst of all her sorrows, enjoys this 
consolation, to live sheltered under the laurels of a Prince, who 
surpasses all that ever was of most exalted and mighty upon earth." 

These fulsome flatteries, which were so admired by that King, 
doubtless moved him to entertain her with great tenderness, and 
made way for the reception of the King her husband, who soon 
after arrived there, and had St. Germain's allowed for their resi- 
dence, with such a revenue as that King could spare, from his other 
mighty expenses, for their subsistence ; though it is a question whe- 
ther King James consulted his own interest in flying to the French 
King, for, certainly, after all that he had done at home, to see him 
harbour himself with the enemy of the English name, the contriver 
and adviser of all the mischiefs, for several years perpetrated in 
the kingdom, what could more convict him of the oppressions of 
his reign, or more inveterately alienate the people's affections from 
him ? Upon the King's second withdrawing, Portsmouth, that held 
out with some obstinacy, under the Duke of Berwick and Sir Ed- 
ward Scott, deputy governor, submitted, and received a garrison, 
sent thither by the Prince's order. 



04 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



And now, to fill up this breach and rupture in the government, 
the lords, spiritual and temporal, immediately met in the House of 
Peers at Westminster, where they drew up an humble address, 
which they presented to his Highness, requesting him, in this con- 
juncture, to take upon him the administration of public affairs, both 
civil and military, and the disposal of the public revenue, for the 
preservation of the Protestant religion, rights, laws, liberties, pro- 
perties, and the peace of the nation, and to take into his particular 
care the present condition of Ireland, and to use speedy and effec- 
tual means to prevent the danger threatening that kingdom. 

At the same time, these honourable lords further humbly re- 
quested ; 66 That his Highness would please to cause letters to be 
written, subscribed by himself, and the lords, spiritual and temporal, 
being Protestants, to the several counties, universities, cities and 
boroughs, &c. directed to the chief magistrates of each, within ten 
days after the receipt thereof, to choose such a number of persons 
to represent them, as are of right to be sent to parliament. Both 
which addresses were presented to the Prince at St. James's, who 
answered, that he had considered their advice, and that he would 
endeavour to secure the- peace of the nation, till the meeting of the 
Convention, Jan. 22 next, and that he would forthwith issue out 
letters to that purpose ; and that he would apply the public revenues 
to their proper use, and likewise endeavour to put Ireland into such 
a condition, as that the Protestant religion, and the English 
interest, might be maintained in that kingdom; further assuring 
them, that as he came hither for the preservation of the Protestant 
religion, and the laws and liberties of the kingdom, so he should 
always be ready to expose himself in any hazard for the defence of 
the same." 

His Highness likewise sent for all such as had been members of 
parliament in the reign of Charles II. together with the alder- 
men and common-council of the city of London, to meet him 
at St. James's, to advise the best manner how to pursue the ends of 
his declaration, in calling a free parliament, for. the preservation of 
the Protestant religion, the restoring of the rights and liberties of 
the kingdom, and settling the same, that they might not be in danger 
of being again subverted. Upon which, they met accordingly, and 
after his Highness had thus graciously expressed himself to them, 
they instantly concluded to go to the House of Commons, where 
being sate, they chose Henry Powle, esq. their chairman, and then 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



drew up an address to the Prince, returning Lis Highness their 
hearty thanks, and expressing their extraordinary acknowledgment, 
for the care he had taken of their religion, laws and liberties, 
humbly intreating him to take upon him the administration of the 
government, &c. which being presented to his Highness at St. 
James's, he returned the same answer as he had done to the lords. 

The news of his Highness's success, and prosperous proceedings 
arriving in Holland, all the persons of quality that were at the 
Hague, appeared at court to compliment her Royal Highness the 
Princess of Orange thereupon, and soon after their electoral High- 
nesses of Brandenburg arrived there, and were entertained very 
splendidly upon that occasion; and the States General sent three 
deputies to England, to congratulate his Highness, who landing at 
the Tower, were received with the discharge of the cannon, and 
conducted to the lodgings appointed for them, with a very splendid 
equipage. 

Dec. 30, his Highness issued out a declaration, to authorise 
sheriffs, justices of peace, and all other officers except Papists, to 
continue and act in their respective places, till farther order ; and a 
second declaration, for the better quartering of soldiers : that none 
should be quartered upon private houses, without the free and 
voluntary consent of the owner; and awhile after, the following 
association for the preservation of his Highness's person, which had 
been promoted, and signed through most counties of England, with 
great cheerfulness and alacrity, was signed also by several noblemen 
and others, at St. James's. 

" We whose names are hereunto subscribed, who have joined 
with the Prince of Orange, for the defence of the Protestant reli- 
gion, and for maintaining the ancient government, and the laws 
and liberties of England, Scotland and Ireland : do engage to 
Almighty God, to his Highness the Prince of Orange, and to one 
another, to stick firm to this cause, and to one another in defence of it; 
and never to depart from it till our religion, our laws and liberties 
are so far secured to us in a free parliament, that we shall be no 
more in danger of falling under Popery and slavery. And whereas 
we are engaged in this common cause, under the protection of the 
Prince of Orange; by which means his person may be exposed to 
dangers, and to the desperate and cursed attempts of the Papists, 
and other bloody men : we do therefore solemnly engage, both to 
God and to one another, that if any such attempts are made upon 
him, we will pursue not only those that make them, but all their 



96 THE HISTORY OF THE 

adherents, and all that we find in arms against us, with the utmost 
severities of a just revenge to their ruin and final destruction : and 
that the execution of any such attempt, (which God of his mercy 
forbid) shall not divert us from prosecuting this cause, which we do 
now undertake ; but that it shall engage us to carry it on with all 
the vigour that so barbarous a practice shall deserve." 

After this, his Highness published a declaration, to command all 
Papists to depart within three days, out of London and Westminster, 
and ten miles about, under penalty of suffering the utmost severity 
of the law; and about the same time, the country people seized a 
great number of persons in Kent, and other places, endeavouring 
to make their escape beyond sea, who were committed to several 
prisons till further orders. And to shew the readiness and zeal of the 
people to support his Highness, he had no sooner signified to the 
city of London, that the necessary expenses he had been at, had 
near exhausted the public revenues; but that they instantly ordered 
a committee to attend him, to know what sum might be necessary, 
and one hundred thousand pounds being named, the generous 
citizens immediately came to Guildhall, and made subscriptions for 
three hundred thousand pounds, which was paid in to admiration, 
within a very few days. 

Affairs being now in a promising way of settlement in England, 
let us take a brief view of Scotland, to whom his Highness, before 
his arrival, had likewise sent a declaration to the same effect with 
that sent to England, some expressions only being varied according to 
the different circumstances of both nations; his Highness declaring, 
" That by the influence of those e vil counsellors, who designed to 
render themselves the absolute masters of the lives, honours and 
estates of the subjects, without being restrained by any rule or law, 
a most exorbitant power had been exercised in imposing bonds and 
oaths upon whole shires; in permitting free quarters to soldiers; in 
imprisoning gentlemen without any reason, forcing them to accuse 
and witness against themselves; in imposing arbitrary fines ; fright- 
ing and harassing many parts of the country, with intercommuning ; 
making some incur the forfeiture of life and fortune, for the most 
general and harmless converse, even with their nearest relations, 
outlawed; empowering officers and soldiers to act upon the subjects 
living in quiet, and full peace, the greatest barbarities : in destroy- 
ing them by hanging, shooting, and drowning them, without any 
form of law, or respect to age or sex, not giving some of them time 
to pray to God for mercy ; and this for no other reason, but because 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



97 



they would not answer or satisfy them in such questions, as they 
proposed to them, without any warrant of law, and against the 
common interest of mankind, which frees all men from being obliged 
to discover their secret thoughts, besides a great many other 
violences and oppressions, to which that poor nation hath been 
exposed, without any hope of having any end put to them, or to 
have relief from them. And that the arbitrary and illegal proceed- 
ings of these evil counsellors might be justified, such a declaration 
hath been procured by them, as strikes at the root of the govern- 
ment, and overturns the most sacred rights of it; in making all par- 
liaments unnecessary, and taking away all defences of religion, 
liberty and property; by an assumed and asserted absolute power, 
to which, obedience is required without reserve, which every good 
Christian is persuaded is due to God Almighty alone, all whose 
commandments are always just and good, &c. 

Upon his Highness's arrival and happy progress in England, the 
terror thereof wrought so effectually upon those Popish and arbitrary 
ministers of state, in Scotland, who were sensible of their own 
guilt, that they thought of nothing but to make their escape from 
justice, which some had the luck to do, others were seized : and the 
multitude rising in divers places, demolished the mass houses, and 
burnt the Popish trinkets, yea, proceeded to several violences and 
disorders, which occasioned the death and wounding of many per- 
sons, even in Edinburgh itself; of which, the Scotch noblemen and 
gentlemen in London, having notice, they resolved to attend his 
Highness the Prince of Orange, and lay before him the willingness 
of the people of Scotland to submit to his protection, and his High- 
ness having notice of their intentions, caused such of them as were 
in town, to be advertized to meet him at St. James's, January 7, to 
whom he made the following speech : 
" My Lords and Gentlemen, 

" The only reason that induced me to undergo so great an under- 
taking was, that I saw the laws and liberties of these kingdoms 
overturned, and the Protestant religion in imminent danger, and 
seeing you are so many noblemen and gentlemen, I have called you 
together, that I may have your advice what is to be done, for the 
securing of the Protestant religion, and restoring your laws and 
liberties, according to my declaration." 

After which, the lords and gentlemen went to the council- 
chamber, at Whitehall, and choosing Duke Hamilton their president, 
they drew up an address, which they presented to the Prince, to 

o 



98 THE HISTORY OF THE 

this effect : a That they rendered his Highness their humble thanks* 
for his pious and generous undertaking, &c. desiring hint to take 
upon him the administration of affairs, civil and military, in Scot* 
land, till the general meeting of the estates, which they humbly 
prayed his Highness to call to be held at Edinburgh, March 14, 
following." This address was subscribed by thirty lords, and 
eighty gentlemen ; his Highness assured them that he would 
do all that they required, and the news thereof coming to Edin- 
burgh, was received with the utmost demonstrations of joy and satis- 
faction. 

The elections for the convention at Westminster, had in some 
places been generally made without those strivings and heats that 
are usual upon such occasions, and seemed to be a good prognostic 
that their debates would be calm, and tend to a speedy settlement : 
and accordingly, the 22d of January being come, the Lords, spiritual 
and temporal, and Commons, assembled at Westminster ; the Lord 
Marquis of Halifax officiated as speaker in the House of Lords, and 
the Commons chose Henry Powle, esq. to be their speaker. After 
which, a letter from his Highness the Prince of Orange was read in 
both houses, on the occasion of their meeting, wherein his Highness 
declared, " That he had endeavoured, to the utmost of his power, 
to perform what was desired of him, in order to the public peace 
and safety, and that he did not know any thing which had been 
omitted that might tend to the preservation of them, since the ad- 
ministration of affairs was put into his hands : and that it now lay 
upon them to lay the foundation of a firm security for their religion, 
laws and liberties ; that he did not doubt, but that by such a full 
and free representative of the nation as was then met, the ends of 
his declaration would be attained : and since it had pleased God 
hitherto to bless his good intentions with such great success, he trusted 
in him that he would complete his own work, by sending a spirit of 
peace and union to influence their councils, that no interruption 
might be given to a happy and lasting settlement; he then repre- 
sented to them the dangerous condition of the Protestants in Ireland, 
and the present state of things abroad, which required their early 
assistance against a powerful enemy, who had declared war against 
them, and which he did not doubt, but without any unseasonable 
divisions among themselves, they would take that effectual Care 
about." 

This letter being read and approved of, the Lords and Commons 
presented an address to his Highness, " That being highly sensible 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



99 



of the great deliverance of this kingdom from Popery and arbitrary 
power, and that their preservation next under God, was owing to 
his Highness, they returned him their humble thanks as the glorious 
instrument of so great a blessing, and did farther acknowledge the 
great care "he had taken in administering the public affairs to that 
time, humbly desiring that his Highness would continue the ad- 
ministration thereof, till further application should be made by 
them, which should be expedited with all convenient speed." This 
address being presented, January 23, 1688, his Highness returned 
them this answer : 

" My Lords and Gentlemen, 

" I am glad that what I have done has pleased you, and since 
you desire me to continue the administration of affairs, I am willing 
to accept it. I must recommend to you the consideration of affairs 
abroad, which maketh it fit for you to expedite your business, not 
only for making a settlement at home upon a good foundation, but 
for the safety of all Europe." 

Afterthis, the Lords and Commons ordered a day of public thanks- 
giving to be kept throughout the kingdom, to render praise to Al- 
mighty God, for having made his Highness the Prince of Orange the 
glorious instrument of the great deliverance of this kingdom from 
Popery and arbitrary power. 

As to the condition of Ireland, the Earl of Tyrconnel, a violent 
Papist, being made lord lieutenant of that kingdom by King James, 
as a fit instrument to carry on his designs, gave the Irish great 
hopes of subduing the English, by his first cashiering the Pro- 
testant officers and soldiers that were in arms, and then by turning 
out the officers and ministers of justice; and though complaints were 
made against his proceedings in the court of England, yet they 
were not regarded, but he rather encouraged in his enterprizes, 
which occasioned such dread of future mischiefs, that divers left the 
kingdom^ some going for Holland, others for Scotland and England. 
Things continued in this dangerous posture, till the news of the 
intended enterprize of the Prince of Orange arrived there, upon 
which, Tyrconnel was very active to secure the Roman Catholic 
interest in Ireland: imprisoning and disarming the Protestants, 
and sending over three thousand of the choicest Irish soldiers to 
assist King James ; but upon notice of his flight into France, he 
called his Popish council together, and told them, that now was the 
time for their standing up for their country, to secure it against all 
their enemies; and as for his part, if his master himself should com- 



100 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



mand him to deliver up the sword, he should think it his duty to 
refuse it in this juncture ; and thereupon, spreading the news all 
over the country, he caused the Irish every where to arm themselves 
with such weapons as they could get ; this tumultuous rabble herd- 
ing together, plundered the Protestants' houses, drove away their 
cattle, fired their stacks of corn and hay, murdered some, and bar- 
barously used others : insomuch, that the Protestants being ex- 
tremely affrighted, many of them fled for their lives, leaving their 
estates behind them ; and though several of the Protestant nobility 
and gentry made head in the north, yet they found themselves un- 
able to resist the fury of their numerous adversaries; however, they 
defeated several parties of Irish, and fortified Londonderry, Sligo, 
the Isle of Inniskillihg, and other places which they thought 
tenable ; for now, Tyrconnel gave orders for stopping the ports, to 
prevent any more from going away, and made many large and 
plausible proposals, to induce them to join with him, though they 
had very little effect upon them. 

The convention at Westminster were still upon serious debates 
about the present condition of the kingdom, and in the mean time, 
it was thought necessary to have the presence of her Highness the 
Princess of Orange in England ; whereupon, a squadron of English 
and Dutch men of war were ordered to wait upon her, till her 
equipage could be got ready, and the wind served to bring over her 
Highness; and after the Lords and Commons had duly weighed the 
circumstance of the King's departure, they at length came to the fol- 
lowing resolution : 

"Resolved, that King James II. having endeavoured to subvert 
the constitution to this kingdom, by breaking the original contract 
between King and people ; and by the advice of Jesuits and other 
wicked persons, having violated the fundamental laws, and having 
withdrawn himself out of this kingdom, hath abdicated the govern- 
ment, and the throne is thereby vacant." 

In pursuance of which resolution, the following declaration was 
drawn up in order to such an establishment, as that the religion, 
laws and liberties of the kingdom, might not again be in danger, 
and for vindicating the ancient rights and liberties of the people in 
these words : 

"Whereas, the late King James II. by the assistance of divers 
evil counsellors, judges, and ministers employed by him, did en- 
deavour to subvert and extirpate the Protestant religion, and the 
laws and liberties of this kingdom, by assuming and exercising a 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



101 



power of dispensing with, and suspending of laws, and the execu- 
tion of laws without consent of parliament. By committing and 
prosecuting divers worthy prelates, for humbly petitioning to be 
excused from concurring to the said assumed power; by issuing, 
and causing to be executed, a commission under the great seal, for 
erecting a court, called, 6 The court of commissioners for ecclesias- , 
tical causes.' By levying money for, and to the use ofj the crown, 
by pretence of prerogative, for other time, and in other manner 
than the same was granted by parliament By raising and keeping a 
standing army within this kingdom in time of peace, without consent 
of parliament, and quartering soldiers, contrary to law. By causing 
several good subjects, being Protestants, to be disarmed at the same 
time, when Papists were both armed and employed, contrary to 
law. By violating the freedom of election of members to serve in 
parliament. By prosecutions in the court of King's bench, for 
matters and causes cognizable only in parliament; and by divers 
other arbitrary illegal courses. 

"And whereas, of late years, partial, corrupt, and unqualified 
persons, have been returned, and served on juries in trials, and par- 
ticularly divers jurors in trials for high treason, who were not 
freeholders. And excessive bail hath been required of persons 
committed in criminal cases, to elude the benefit of the laws made 
for the liberty of the subjects : and excessive fines have been im- 
posed. And illegal and cruel punishments inflicted. And several 
grants and promises made of fines and forfeitures, before any con- 
viction or judgment against the persons, upon whom the same 
were to be levied ; ail which are utterly and directly contrary to the 
known laws and statutes, and freedom of this realm. And whereas, 
the said late King James II. having abdicated the government, and 
the throne being thereby vacant. 

"His Highness the Prince of Orange, (whom it hath pleased 
Almighty God to make the glorious instrument of delivering this 
kingdom from Popery and arbitrary power,) did, by the advice of 
the Lords, spiritual and temporal, and divers principal persons of 
the Commons, cause letters to be written to the Lords, spiritual 
and temporal, being Protestants: and other letters to the several 
counties, cities, universities, boroughs, and cinque ports, for the 
choosing of such persons to represent them, as were of right to be sent 
to parliament ; to meet and sit at Westminster, January 22, 1688, 
in order to such an establishment, as that their religion, laws and 



102 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



liberties might not again be in danger of being subverted ; upon 
which letters, elections having been accordingly made, 

" And thereupon the said Lords, spiritual and temporal, and 
Commons, pursuant to their respective letters and elections, being 
now assembled in a full and free representative of this nation, 
taking into their most serious consideration the best means for at- 
taining the ends aforesaid, do, in the first place, (as their ancestors 
in like case have usually done,) for the vindicating and asserting 
their ancient rights and liberties, declare, that the pretended power 
of suspending of laws, or the execution of laws by regal authority, 
without consent of parliament, is illegal ; that the pretended power 
of dispensing with laws, or the execution of laws by regal autho- 
rity, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal ; that 
the commission for erecting the late court of commissioners for the 
ecclesiastical causes, and all other commissions and courts of like 
nature, are illegal and pernicious; that levying money for, br to 
the use of the crown, by pretence of prerogative, without grant of 
parliament, for longer time, or in other manner, than the same is, 
or shall be granted, is illegal ; that it is the right of the subjects to 
petition the King, and all commitments and prosecutions, for such 
petitioning, are illegal ; that the raising or keeping a standing army 
within the kingdom, in time of peace, unless it be with consent of 
parliament, is against law ; that the subjects, which are Protestants, 
may have arms for their defence suitable to their conditions, and as 
allowed by law ; that election of members of parliament ought to 
be free ; that the freedom of speech, and debates, or proceedings in 
parliament, ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court 
or place out of parliament ; that excessive bail ought not to be re- 
quired, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punish- 
ments inflicted; that jurors ought (o be duly impannelled and re- 
turned, and jurors, which pass upon men in trials for high treason, 
ought to be freeholders ; that all grants and promises of fines and 
forfeitures of particular persons, before conviction, are illegal and 
void; and that for redress of all grievances, and for the amend- 
ing, strengthening, and preserving of the laws, parliaments ought 
to be held frequently. 

" And they do claim, demand, and insist, upon all and singular 
the premises, as their undoubted rights and liberties ; and that no 
declaration, judgments, doings, or proceedings, to the prejudice of 
the people in any of the said premises, ought, in any wise, to be 

i 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 



103 



drawn hereafter into consequence or example ; to which demand of 
their right they are particularly encouraged by the declaration of his 
Highness the Prince of Orange, as being the only means for obtain- 
ing a full redress and remedy therein. 

" Having, therefore, an entire confidence, that his said High- 
ness the Prince of Orange will perfect the deliverance so far ad- 
vanced by him, and will still preserve them from the violation of their 
rights, which they have here asserted, and from all other attempts 
upon their religion, rights, and liberties, the said Lords, spiritual 
and temporal, and Commons, assembled at Westminster, do re- 
solve, that William and Maiy, Prince and Princess of Orange, be, 
and be declared King and Queen of England, France, and Ireland, 
and the dominions thereunto belonging, to hold the crown and royal 
dignity of the said kingdom and dominions, to them, the said 
Prince and Princess, during their lives, and the life of the survivor 
of them ; and that the sole and full exercise of the regal power be 
only in, and executed by the said Prince of Orange, in the names 
of the said Prince and Princess, during their joint lives ; and after 
their deceases, the said crown and royal dignity of the said king- 
doms and dominions to be to the heirs of the body of the said 
Princess; and for default of such issue, to the Princess Ann of 
Denmark, and the heirs of her body ; and for default of such issue, 
to the heirs of the body of the said Prince of Orange ; and the 
Lords, spiritual and temporal, and Commons, do pray the said 
Prince and Princess to accept the same accordingly ; and that the 
oaths hereafter mentioned be taken by all persons, of whom the 
oaths of allegiance and supremacy might be required . by law, in- 
stead of them ; and that the said oaths of allegiance and supremacy 
be abrogated. 

" I, A. B. do sincerely promise and swear, that I will be faithful 
and bear true allegiance to their Majesties, King William and 
Queen Mary ; so help me God." 

" I, A. B. do swear, that 1 do, from my heart, abhor, detest, and 
abjure, as impious and heretical, this damnable doctrine and posi- 
tion, that Princes, excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, or 
any authority of the see of Rome, may be deposed or murdered by 
their subjects, or any other whatsoever. 

u And I do declare, that no foreign Prince, person, prelate, state, 
or potentate, hath, or ought to have any jurisdiction, power, supe- 
riority, pre-eminence, or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within 
this realm ; so help me God." 



THE HISTORY OF THE 



This declaration being presented to their Highnesses the Prince 
and Princess of Orange, in the banquettingrhouse at Whitehall, on 
Wednesday, February 13, 1688, and their consent thereunto re- 
ceived, they were both, the same day, proclaimed King and Queen 
of England, France and Ireland, &c. at Whitehall-gate, Temple- 
bar, and the Royal Exchange, many of the Lords and Commons at- 
tending, and the people proclaiming their joys by repeated shouts 
and acclamations. The tenor of the proclamation was as followeth : 

" Whereas, it hath pleased Almighty God, in his great mercy to 
this kingdom, to vouchsafe us a miraculous deliverance from Popery 
and arbitrary power, and that our preservation is due, next under 
God, to the resolution and conduct of his Highness the Prince of 
Orange, whom God hath chosen to -be the glorious instrument of 
such an inestimable happiness to us and our posterity ; and being 
highly sensible and fully persuaded of the great and eminent virtues 
of her Highness the Princess of Orange, whose zeal for the Pro- 
testant religion will, no doubt, bring a blessing along with her upon 
this nation ; and whereas, the Lords and Commons now assembled 
at Westminster have made a declaration, and presented the same to 
the said Prince and Princess of Orange, and therein desired them to 
accept the crown, who have accepted the same accordingly; We, 
therefore, the Lords, spiritual and temporal, and Commons, toge- 
ther with the Lord Mayor and citizens of London, and others of 
the Commons of this realm, do, with full consent, publish and 
proclaim, according to the said declaration, William and Mary, 
Prince and Princess of Orange, to be King and Queen of England, 
France, and Ireland, with all the dominions and territories there- 
unto belonging, who are accordingly so to be owned, deemed, and 
taken, by all the people of the aforesaid realms and dominions, who 
are, from henceforward, bound to acknowledge and pay unto them 
all faith and true allegiance, beseeching God, by whom Kings 
reign, to bless King William and Queen Mary, with long and 
happy years to reign over us. God save King William and Queen 
Mary. 

" JOHN BROWN, Clericus Parliamentorum." 

It is reported, that his Majesty should thus generously express 
himself upon this occasion: " That though the regulations seemed 
somewhat harsh, they were easy to him that desired only to be a 
great King ; but with respect to one that aimed to be a tyrant; they 
were not strict enough." 



HOUSE OF ORANGE. 103 

Having thus brought their Majesties to the throne, let us make a 
few remarks upon this wonderful and unparalleled revolution, and 
so conclude the history of the House of Orange. 

Had a Prince of less secrecy, prudence, courage, and interest, 
undertaken this mighty affair, it might probably have miscarried; 
but as his cause was better, so his reputation, conduct, and pa- 
tience, infinitely exceeded that of King James. He would not stir 
till he saw the French forces sit down before Philipsburg, and that 
he was sure France and Germany were irrecoverably engaged, and 
that he should have no other opposition than what the Irish and 
English Roman Catholics could make against him, for no English 
Protestant would fight his country into vassalage and slavery to 
Popish priests and Italian women : when a parliament, sooner or 
later, must have determined every thing in controversy, except they 
were resolved, once for all, to have given up their religion, laws, 
liberties, and estates, to the will of their arbitrary Kings, and sub- 
mitted, for ever, to a French government; and, indeed, a nation of 
less sense than the English might have been imposed upon ; of less 
bravery and valour, might have been frighted; of a more servile 
temper, might have neglected their liberties, till it had been too late 
to recover them again; and none but a parcel of Jesuits, unac- 
quainted with their temper and constitution, would ever have 
hoped to have carried two such things, as Popery and arbitrary 
power, both at once, upon a people so jealous as the English are ; 
and who hate idolatry and tyranny above any nation in the world. 

As for King James II. had he undertaken any thing but these two, 
his vast revenue, his reputed personal valour, and the fame he 
had gained, both at home and abroad, by the defeat of Monmouth's 
invasion, would have gone near to have effected it: and after all, 
if he had, in the beginning of October, freely granted all the pro- 
posals made him by the nobility, and suffered a parliament to have 
met, and given up his evil ministers to justice, and permitted the 
birth of the pretended Prince of Wales to have been freely debated 
and determined in parliament, it would, in all probability, have pre- 
vented this expedition of the Prince of Orange ; but whilst he 
thought to preserve the pretended succession, the dispensing and 
suspending power, and the ecclesiastical commission, to promote 
his future designs, when he had once baffled the Prince of Orange, 
the nation saw through the project and he lost all. 

As for the English in general, their interest centres in the main- 
taining the rights and franchises of their kingdom, which renders 

p 



106 



THE HISTORY, Sec. 



them this day the freest nation in Europe; a character, so far from 
supposing them to be like other nations, a people headstrong and 
inconstant, that it shews them them to be the most considerate and 
understanding people in the world ; in short, though the example 
of a neighbouring Prince had served for a platform for other 
crowned heads to enlarge their power beyond the limits prescribed 
by the constitutions of the kingdom, we see that at the very , mo- 
ment that the King began to act like his neighbour, they presently 
put a stop to his design, without the least respect to his dignity ; 
they saw how sovereign authority reigned in France, as independent 
of the laws as in Turkey ; they beheld the face of the kingdom of 
Sweden and Denmark changed, by introducing hereditary succes- 
sion, whereas they were elective before ; they viewed the face of 
the kingdom of Hungary, heretofore the seat of liberty, disfigured 
by the same innovation ; and Poland, that boasts to have preserved 
the ancient laws entire, has, notwithstanding, suffered injurious al- 
terations. In short, which way soever we cast our eyes, we shall 
find attempts of the same nature prosper, only in England they have 
failed, whence we may conclude that, maugre all which has been 
said of the English nation, they are the wisest and most prudent 
people that we know of under the sun. 



THE 



HISTORY 



OF 

KING WILLIAM and QUEEN MARY. 



King William and Queen Marj being* proclaimed in all the 
counties, and chief cities of England, with the general joy of the 
people, addresses were daily presented them from several parts, to 
testify their extreme satisfaction and content in their being advanced 
to the throne ; and the convention being by an act signed by the 
King turned into a parliament, in the same manner as the conven- 
tion was, upon the restoration of Charles II. 1660. They proceeded 
to enact several laws for settling the government upon its true and 
ancient basis ; and several vacant offices and employments were 
supplied by their Majesties, and Dr. Gilbert Burnet was made 
Bishop of Salisbury, in the room of Dr. Seth Ward, deceased. 

1 hav e been very brief upon the affairs in England, till the happy 
revolution, in 1688, because I have lately published a book of the 
same value with this, entitled, 

" The History of the two late Kings, Charles II. and James II. 
being an impartial account of the most remarkable transactions, and 
observable passages during their reigns ; and the secret French and 
Popish intrigues managed in those times." 

Neither shall I enlarge upon the affairs of Ireland, intending 
suddenly to publish the history of that kingdom from the first con- 
quest thereof by King Henry II. to its total reduction by the arms 
of their present Majesties. 

p 2 



108 



THE HISTORY OF 



And now both houses of parliament presented an humble address to 
his Majesty about the speedy relief of Ireland ; in pursuance 
whereof, the King sent over a proclamation of pardon to all the 
Irish Papists that would lay down their arms, and live peaceably 
under the government, with the full enjoyment of their estates, 
and the private exercise of their religion, which if they refused, 
they were declared rebels and traitors to the Crown of England, 
and their estates to be forfeited and distributed among those that 
should aid and assist in reducing them to obedience ; but Tyrconnel 
endeavoured to hinder the effect thereof by promising them speedy 
succours from France, and that King James would come in person 
with a numerous army to their assistance^ and sent several detach- 
ments of his tattered regiments to seize divers considerable Pro- 
testants in their houses, who upon notice escaped into the north, 
and strengthened their party ; the priests stirred up these rascally 
vermin, that were armed with pitchforks, bills, staves, and other 
weapons, to commit all manner of outrages, to the damage of some 
Papists, as well as Protestants, and it was reported that at a consult 
in the council, wherein some Popish bishops assisted, it was moved 
that the only way to clear the country of heretics, was by a general 
massacre, but Tyrconnel opposed it. In March, the late King 
James took post from Paris to Brest, and soon after landed in 
Ireland, with a numerous train of officers, but very few soldiers. 

The estates of Scotland met the same month at Edinburgh, in 
pursuance of his Majesty's circular letters, and King William sent 
them the following letter : 

u My Lords and Gentlemen, 

" We are very sensible of the kindness and concern which your 
nation has evinced towards us, and our undertaking for the pre- 
servation of your religion and liberty, which were in such imminent 
danger. Neither can we in the least doubt your confidence in us, 
after having seen, how far so many of your nobility and gentry have 
owned our declaration, countenancing and concurring with us in 
our endeavours, and desiring us that we would take upon us, the 
administration of affairs, civil and military, and to call a meeting 
of the estates for securing the Protestant religion, and the ancient 
laws and liberties of that kingdom, which accordingly we have done. 
Now it lies on you to enter upon such consultations as are most 
proper to settle you on sure and lasting foundations, which we hope 
you will set about with all convenient speed, with regard to the 
public good, and to the general interest and inclinations of the 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 109 



people ; that after so much trouble and great suffering", they may 
live happily and in peace, and that you may lay aside all animosities 
and factions that may impede so good a work. We are glad to find 
that so many of the nobility and gentry, when here in London, were 
so much inclined to a union of both kingdoms, and that they did 
look upon it, as the best means for procuring the happiness of both 
nations, and settling of a lasting peace among them ; which would 
be advantageous to both, they living in the same island, having 
the same language, and the same common interest of religion and 
liberty, especially at this juncture, when the enemies of both are so 
restless in endeavouring to make and increase jealousies and divi- 
sions, which they will be ready to improve to their own advantage 
and the ruin of Britain ; we being of the same opinion as to the 
uselessness of this union, and having nothing so much before our 
eyes as the glory of God, establishing the reformed religion, and 
the peace and happiness of these nations, are resolved to use our 
utmost endeavours in advancing every thing that may conduce to 
the effectuating the same. So we bid you heartily farewell. From 
our court at Hampton, March 7, 1689." 

This letter being read, commissioners were named to draw an 
answer full of acknowledgment and respect ; the late King James 
had likewise sent a letter to the estates, but before they proceeded 
to read it, they passed an act, that notwithstanding any thing that 
might be contained in the letter, for dissolving or impeding their 
procedure, yet they were a free and lawful meeting of the States, 
and would continue undissolved till they had settled the government ; 
which done, the letter was read, but the convention took so little 
notice of the late King's exhortations, to declare for him, that the 
messenger was first secured, and then not being thought worthy 
detaining, dismissed with a pass instead of an answer. 

After this, commissioners were chosen for drawing up the settle- 
ment of the government, out of which the bishops were left, as 
having disgusted the generality of the States, by their prayers at 
the beginning of the session. That God would have compassion on 
King James, and restore him, and other passages, which discovered 
their disaffection to their Majesties, and the government then about 
to be erected. The Duke of Gordon, who had the command of 
Edinburgh castle, after he had for some time amused the convention 
by his delays, so soon as he heard the late King was arrived in 
Ireland, set up his standard to signify his resolution to hold out that 



110 THE HISTORY OF 

place, and fired all the cannon, without bullets, to the great terror 
of those that lay under the mercy of his great shot. 

April 12, both houses of parliament in England presented an 
humble address to the King, wherein they declare that being highly 
sensible of their late great deliverance from Popery and arbitrary 
power, whereof it had pleased God to make his Majesty the 
glorious instrument, and desiring to the utmost of their abilities to 
express their gratitude, for so great and generous an undertaking, 
no less necessary for the support of the Protestant interest in 
Europe, than for recovering and maintaining the civil rights and 
liberties of these nations, so notoriously invaded and undermined 
by Popish councils and counsellors, and being likewise fully 
convinced of the restless spirits, and the continued endeavours of 
their Majesties and the nation s enemies, for the extirpation of the 
Protestant religion, and the subversion of our laws and liberties, 
unanimously declared, that they would stand by and assist his 
Majesty with their lives and fortunes in supporting his alliances 
abroad, in reducing Ireland, and in defence of the Protestant reli- 
gion, and of the kingdom. 

In answer hereto, the King assured them of his great esteem and 
affection for parliaments, especially for this, which would be much 
increased by the kindness they shewed to him, and their zeal for the 
public good, and that he would never abuse the confidence they 
put in him, nor give any parliament cause to distrust him, because 
he would never expect any thing from them, but what it was their 
interest to grant ; that he came hither for the good of the kingdom, 
and since, by their desire, he was in that station, he would still 
pursue the same ends that brought him ; that God had been pleased 
to make him instrumental to redeem them from the ills they feared, 
and it was still his desire as well as his duty to endeavour to pre- 
serve their religion, laws, and liberties, which were the only 
inducements that brought him into England, and to those he did 
ascribe the blessings that had attended this undertaking ; he then 
reminded them of assisting his allies, especially the Dutch, and to 
consider the deplorable condition of Ireland ; which by the zeal and 
violence of the Popish party, and the assistance and encouragement 
of the French, required a considerable force to reduce it, &c. and 
that a fleet may be likewise provided, which in conjunction with the 
States, might make us entire masters of the seas ; and as they freely 
offered to hazard all that is dear to them, sp he should as freely 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. Ill 



expose his life for the support of the Protestant religion, and the 
safety and honour of the nation. 

In Scotland, the Viscount Dundee having made escape from 
Edinburgh, went to the north, where he stirred up the Highlanders 
to join with him, and declare for King James; upon which the 
convention ordered a nuuiber of horse, foot, and dragoons to' march 
against them, and in the mean time, the Lord Ross, who was sent 
with a letter to King William in England, returned, and brought 
an answer thereto ; after which, the estates drew up an instrument 
of government, for settling the crown upon King William and 
Queen Mary; wherein they recapitulate their grievances, and 
propose remedies for the same ; and then declare ; " That King 
James VII. being a professed Papist, did assume the royal power, 
and acted as a King, without ever taking the oath required by law, 
and hath by advice of evil and wicked counsellors, invaded the 
fundamental constitutions of the kingdom, and altered it from a 
legal limited monarchy, to an arbitrary despotic power, and did 
exercise the same, to the subversion of the Protestant religion, and 
the violation of the laws and liberties of the kingdom, inverting 
all the ends of government, whereby he hath forefaulted the right 
to the crown, and the throne is become vacant : and they do pray 
the King and Queen of England, to accept the crown and royal 
dignity of the kingdom of Scotland, 8tc." 

And an oath of allegiance was drawn up, to be taken by all 
persons to them, together with a coronation oath, and April 11, 
being the day of the Coronation of their Majesties at Westminster, 
they were proclaimed at Edinburgh, with universal joy and accla- 
mations. Commissioners were also dispatched for London, that is, 
the Earl of Argyle, Sir James Montgomery of Skelmerly, and Sir 
John Dalrymple of Stair,, younger, from the meeting of the estates, 
with an offer of the crown of that kingdom to their Majesties, and 
J May 11, 1689, they accordingly at three o'clock met at the council 
chamber, and from thence were conducted by Sir Charles Cottrel, 
master of the ceremonies, attended by most of the nobility and 
gentry of that kingdom, who resided in and about this place, to the 
Banqueting-house, where the King and Queen came, attended by 
many persons of quality ; the sword being carried before them by 
the Lord Cardross, and their Majesties being placed on the throne, 
under a rich canopy, they first presented a letter from the estates 
to his Majesty, then the instrument of government ; thirdly, a 
paper containing the grievances which they desired might be 



112 



THE HISTORY OF 



redressed ; and, lastly, an address to his Majesty, for turning the 
meeting- of the said estates into a parliament, all which being signed 
by his Grace the Duke of Hamilton, as president of the meeting, 
and read to their Majesties, the King returned to the commissioners 
the following answer : 

" When I engaged in this undertaking, I had particular regard 
and consideration for Scotland, and therefore I did omit a - declara- 
tion in relation to that as well as to this kingdom, which I intend to 
make good and effectual to them. I take it very kindly, that Scot- 
land hath expressed so much confidence in, and affection to me ; 
they shall find me willing to assist them in every thing that 
concerns the welfare and interest of that kingdom, by making 
what laws shall be necessary for the security of their religion, 
property, and liberty, and to ease them of what may be justly 
grievous to them." 

After which, the coronation oath was tendered to their Majesties, 
which the Earl of Argyle spoke word by word distinctly, and the 
King and Queen repeated it after him, holding their right hands up> 
after the manner of taking oaths in Scotland. 

The meeting of the estates of Scotland, did authorise their com- 
missioners to represent to his Majesty, that that clause in the oath, 
in relation to the rooting out of heretics, did not import the de- 
stroying of heretics; and that. by the law of Scotland, no man was 
to be persecuted for his private opinion; and even obstinate and 
convicted heretics were only to be denounced rebels, or outlawed, 
whereby their moveable estates are confiscated. His Majesty at 
the repeating that clause in the oath, did declare, that he did not 
mean by these words, that he was under any obligation to become a 
persecutor. To which the commissioners made answer, That nei- 
ther the meaning of the oath, or the law of Scotland did import it. 
Then the King replied, that he took the oath in that sense, and 
called for witnesses, the said commissioners and others present ; and 
then both their Majesties signed the said coronation oath. After 
which, the commissioners and several of the Scotch nobility kissed 
their Majesties hands. 

The parliament in England proceeded to enact many laws for the 
ease of the people and security of the kingdom; one for taking 
away the revenue arising from the hearth-money, by his Majesty's 
own desire, who willingly resigned up his right therein, because it 
was found grievous to the people, though it occasioned a great di- 
minution to the revenue of the crown ; another act was passed for 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 113 



exempting their Majesties' Protestant subjects, dissenting from the 
church of England, from the penalties of certain laws ; another for 
abrogating the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, and appointing 
other oaths : another for prohibiting all trade and commerce with 
France, with divers more ; and about the same time the House of 
Commons presented his Majesty the following address : 
_ " We, your Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the Com- 
mons in Parliament assembled, most humbly lay before your Ma- 
jesty our earnest desires, that your Majesty would be pleased to 
take into your most serious consideration the destructive methods 
taken of late years by the French King, against the trade, quiet, 
and interest of your kingdom, and particularly the present invasion 
of your kingdom of Ireland, and supporting your Majesty's rebel- 
lious subjects; and we not doubting, in the least, but through your 
Majesty's wisdom, the alliances already made, as well as those that 
may be hereafter concluded, on this occasion, by your Majesty, may 
be effectual, to reduce the French King to such a condition, that it 
may not be in his power hereafter to violate the peace of Christen- 
dom, nor prejudice the trade and prosperity of this your Majesty's 
kingdom. To this end we most humbly beseech your Majesty to 
rest assured, upon this our hearty and solemn promise and engage- 
ment, that when your Majesty shall think fit to enter into a war 
with the French King, we will give your Majesty such assistance in a 
parliamentary way, as may enable your Majesty (under the protec- 
tion and blessing that Almighty God has ever afforded you) to sup- 
port and go through with the same." 

To this request and resolution of the House of Commons, which 
wan so graceful to the nation in general, his Majesty was pleased to 
return this answer : 
" Gentlemen, 

" I receive this address as a mark of the confidence you have in 
me, which I take very kindly, and shall endeavour, by all my ac- 
tions, to confirm you in it. I assure you, that my own ambition 
shall never be an argument to incline me to engage in a war, that 
may expose the nation either to danger or expense ; but in the pre- 
sent case I look upon the war so much already declared, in effect, 
by France against England, that it is not so much an act of choice 
as an inevitable necessity in our own defence. I shall only tell you, 
that as I have ventured my life, and all that is dear to me, to rescue 
the nation from what it suffered, so I am ready still to do the same, 
in order to the preserving it from all its enemies ; and as I doubt 

Q 



114 



THE HISTORY OF 



not of such an assistance from you, as shall be suitable to your ad- 
vice to me to declare war against a powerful enemy, so you may 
rely upon me, that no part of that which you shall give for the car- 
rying it on with success, shall by me be diverted to any other use." 

Soon after a declaration of war was published against France, and 
the reasons thereof, namely, " The unjust methods of the French 
King these late years to gratify his ambition, by invading the terri- 
tories of the empire now in amity with us, and in manifest violation 
of the treaties confirmed by the guarantee of the crown of England, 
his Majesty, therefore, can do no less than join with his allies in 
opposing that King's designs, as the disturber of the peace and the 
common enenry of the Christian world ; likewise the many injuries 
done to his Majesty and his subjects are a sufficent justification for 
their taking arms, since they have called upon his Majesty so to do ; 
and though no notice has been taken, nor reparation demanded, of 
late years, for reasons well known to the world, yet his Majesty will 
not pass them over, without a public and just resentment of such out- 
rages ; also the encroachments and invasions of the French on our 
trade and fishing of Newfoundland, and their hostilities upon the 
Charibbee Islands, New York, and Hudson's Bay, seizing the 
forts, burning the houses, robbing the English of their goods, im- 
prisoning some, inhumanly killing others, and driving the rest to 
sea in a small vessel, without food or necessaries, and this even at a 
time when that King was negociating a treaty in England, of neu- 
trality and good correspondence in America ; also his countenancing 
the seizure of English ships by French privateers ; his disputing 
the right of the flag in the narrow seas which, in all ages, has been 
asserted by his Majesty's predecessors, and which he is resolved to 
maintain for the honour of the crown and of the English nation ; 
and that which most nearly touches his Majesty is, his unchristian 
persecution of many English Protestants in France, contrary to the 
law of nations and express treaties, forcing them to abjure their re- 
ligion, by strange and unusual cruelties, imprisoning some English 
masters and seamen, and condemning others to the gallies, upon 
pretence of having on board either the persons or goods of some of 
his own miserable Protestant subjects ; lastly, as he has, for some 
years past, endeavoured, by insinuation and promises of assistance, 
to overthrow the government of England, so now, by open and 
violent methods, and the actual invasion of Ireland, and supporting 
the rebels there, he is promoting the utter extirpation of the Pro- 
testants there. His Majesty being therefore thus necessitated to 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 



115 



take up arms, and relying on the help of Almighty God in his just 
undertaking, hath thought fit to declare war against the French 
King, and will, in conjunction with his allies, vigorously prose- 
cute the same by sea and land, since he hath so unrighteously 
begun it; being assured of the hearty concurrence* and assist- 
ance of his subjects ; in supporting of so good a cause, forbidding 
all correspondence or communication with that King or his sub- 
jects ; and that all the French nation in his Majesty's dominions, 
who shall demean themselves dutifully, and not correspond with 
his enemies, shall upon the King's royal word, be safe in their 
persons and estates, and free from all molestation and trouble oi 
any kind. 

About the same time the King of Spain proclaimed war against 
France, and the Emperor of Germany sent a letter to his Majesty, 
wherein, after he has returned thanks to the King for taking care 
that no violence should be offered to the Roman Catholics, he pro- 
mises the same thing in respect to the Protestants. His Majesty 
gave advice to the Switzers of his advancement to the throne; so 
that now King William and Queen Mary were acknowledged for 
lawful Sovereigns of Great Britain by all the Protestant, and the 
greatest part of the Roman Catholic Princes and States, for (be- 
sides the Emperor and the King of Spain) the Duke of Bavaria, the 
three Ecclesiastical Electors, the Duke of Newberg, the Elector 
Palatine, and the Bishops of Leige and Munster, all Roman Ca- 
tholics, declared themselves enemies to France, and by this we may 
observe, that the French politicians were greatly deceived in their 
measures ; for upon notice of the Prince of Orange's expedition into 
England, it is reported, some of them thus discoursed King Lewis : 
" Sir," said they, " there is a civil war kindling in England, which 
will last this two or three years, and disable that island and the 
United Provinces from acting. In this time your Majesty will have 
conquered all, or the greatest part of Germany. If King James 
has the worst, we will persuade all the Catholic Princes to unite and 
restore him. All this while your Majesty will be head of the league, 
will preserve your conquests, and King James cannot refuse you 
Ireland, or any other portion of his kingdom, for the expenses of 
the war. This done, your Majesty shall fall upon Holland, which 
will be weak, and unprovided of men and money, and shall be able, 
in a little time, to oppress the remainder of the Protestants, and so 
become Emperor of all Europe." But, unfortunately for them, 
King James II. too soon forsook his country, and then they cried 
religion is ruined, unless all endeavours are used for his restoration ; 

Q 2 



116 THE HISTORY OF 



upon which some would fain know what religion the French King 
is of, who persecutes and invades Papists as M'ell as Protestants, and 
think that he must be either a Pagan or Mahometan, or else of a 
Christianity all of his own contriving, to carry on his perjuries and 
usurpations upon his neighbours. 

May 1, a squadron of English men of war, under Admiral Her- 
bert, sailing toward the coast of Ireland, to prevent the French 
from landing forces and provisions there, understanding they were 
got to sea under favour of the night, they got sight of them lying 
in the Bay of Ban try, in the west of Ireland, and resolved to at- 
tack them with nine ships in the harbour, they being about forty- 
four sail in all, whereupon the next morning the fight began ; we 
continued battering, upon a stretch, till five in the afternoon, when 
the French Admiral tacked from us, and stood further into the Bay. 
In this action Captain Aylmer and ninety-four seamen were killed", 
and about two hundred and fifty wounded; but the enemy were re- 
ported to have two hundred slain and many more wounded, and 
having landed some few men for fear of a second engagement, re- 
treated; after which our squadron returned to Portsmouth, whither 
his Majesty came soon after, and declared his royal intention of 
conferring the title of Earl upon the Admiral, and accordingly he 
was afterward created Earl of Torririgton, Baron of Torbay, &c. 
and the Captains Shovell and Ashby were knighted, and ten shil- 
lings a man was given to those seamen that had been engaged 
against the French. 

' King James found himself, at this time, greatly mistaken in Scot- 
land, which he called his ancient kingdom, where he thought him- 
self absolute master, by making so many creatures and friends, 
whereas that kingdom in general now owned King William : and 
the rebels, whose numbers were inconsiderable, were discovered and 
secured; the Lord Dundee only escaped, who roamed about the 
north parts with some few followers, and General Mackay at his 
heels. Letters, about this time, were intercepted from the late 
King and his secretary Melfort to the Lord Balcarris and others, 
wherein were some expressions that highly incensed the Scots 
against them. You will ask me, without question," says Melfort 
to Claverhouse, " how we intend to pay our army; but never fear 
that, so long as there are rebels' estates ; we will begin with the 
great ones and end with the little ones." In another letter to Bel- 
carris, says he, " The estates of the rebels will recompence us. 
Experience hath taught our illustrious master, that there are a good 
number of people that must be made gibeonites, because they are 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 117 



good for nothing else ; you know that there are several lords that 
we marked out, when we were both together, that deserve no 
better. These will serve for examples to others." After the read- 
ing of these letters, the President of the convention, addressing 
himself to the members of the assembly, " You hear, Gentlemen," 
said he, " our sentence pronounced, and that it behoves us either 
to defend ourselves or die ;" upon which the Lords Balcarris and 
Lochore, and Lieutenant-Colonel Balfour, were committed to pri- 
son, and being thus forewarned, they resolved to keep the army 
afoot which they thought of disbanding. As to the hopes of the 
enemies of that kingdom, that the abolishing of episcopacy may oc- 
casion another revolution, there is no reason to believe it, since the 
late carriage of the Scotch bishops has utterly alienated the affec- 
tions of the greater part of the people from them, so that if they 
were Protestants at the bottom of their souls, yet they appeared to 
be men of no policy nor conduct, for they sent an address to King 
James, wherein they highly congratulated the birth of the pre- 
tended Prince of Wales ; they read that King's declaration for li- 
berty of conscience, in favour of the Papists, and for the abolition 
of penal laws; and how could they imagine, that when they knew it 
was a long time before, that they could gain that single point of the 
superiority of bishops above private ministers, that the Scots would 
ever endure Popery and arbitrary power to domineer over them. 
Experience shews us, that they only wanted a leader before this 
time, so that when the Prince of Orange's design was once dis- 
coursed of, it caused an universal joy over Edinburgh and the 
whole kingdom, only the prelates wrote to King James, that they 
looked upon this enterprize as a " detestable invasion ;" and after 
the same manner they behaved themselves to the end, some absent- 
ing from the convention, others attending only to thwart their pro- 
ceedings, and shew their disaffection by their public prayers; so 
that some wise men have affirmed, had the bishops of Scotland 
shewed the same constancy with those of England, their zeal and 
virtue had gained the hearts of the Scots, and given them oppor- 
tunity to continue episcopacy; but their ill conduct, during the last 
two reigns, in their obstinate supporting the Roman Catholic party, 
that had already invaded all the liberties of the people, annulled 
their privileges, and changed a government, limited by law, into 
arbitrary power, rendered them the abomination of the people, who 
were convinced that their dignities were the only things they re- 
garded, which made them deviate from the rules of the gospel. 



118 



THE HISTORY OF 



looking no farther than their present enjoyments, little minding the 
betraying the interests of religion and the kingdom, out of a trea- 
cherous compliance with the will and pleasure of a Popish court, to 
whom they made themselves slaves. 

June 15, the estates of Scotland met after their late adjournment, 
and the Duke of Hamilton acquainted them, that his Majesty had 
been pleased to send him a commission to represent his royal 
person, and that he had orders to give his consent to an act for the 
turning the meeting of the estates into a parliament, which was 
done accordingly, and soon after they made an act for recognizing 
and asserting their Majesty's royal authority and right to the crown, 
and another for all persons to take an oath of faith and allegiance 
to them ; and about the same time the English forces under General 
Mackay, and others being entered that kingdom, the Duke of 
Gordon, who till this time had possession of the castle, finding no 
hopes of relief, surrendered it upon articles to Sir John Lanier; and 
so that important place, which so long had been a terror to the. 
city of Edinburgh was put into safe hands, the Duke casting himself 
upon the King's mercy without making any article for himself, and 
it was reported he said, " That he had so much respect for all the 
Princes of King James VI. line, as not to make conditions with 
them for his own particular interest ;" after this, a reward of eighteen 
thousand marks was, by proclamation, promised to those that should 
apprehend Dundee, dead or alive, and indeed he survived not long 
after ; for July 26, Major-general Mackay marching from St. John's 
Town with four thousand foot, and four troops of horse and dra- 
goons, and coming within two miles of the Blair of Athol, had 
notice that Dundee advanced toward him, with six thousand foot, 
and one hundred horse, the fight began between four and five 
o'clock in the afternoon, and lasted till night, with great courage 
and resolution on both sides ; but at length Mackay's forces being 
overpowered with number, he retired toward Sterling, with a body 
of fifteen hundred men in good order: many were killed on both sides, 
but the enemies loss was greater by the death of Viscount Dundee, 
who charging furiously at the head of the Highlanders to encourage 
them, was slain with a shot, though he had armour; after which a 
division happened between the Lord Dumfermling and Colonel 
Cannon, who should succeed in the command of the rebels, at which 
time Major General Mackay hearing that five hundred of their foot, 
and two troops of horse, were sent to St. John's town, to surprize 
the stores of provisions there, resolved to be revenged for his late 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 119 



loss; and marching out of Sterling with a party of horse and dra- 
goons, met the rebels, and gave them a total rout, killing and taking 
prisoners the greatest part of them, and Captain Hacket, their com- 
mander. Soon after another defeat was given to Colonel Cannon's 
men, consisting of about four thousand, with the addition of the 
country, by the Earl of Angus's regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel 
Cleland, who, after three hours sharp dispute, forced the rebels to 
fly back, with the loss of above three hundred, and not above thirty 
of the King's men, among whom was the Lieutenant Colonel. This 
defeat put an effectual stop to the incursions of the Highlanders, 
who lost all their courage with the death of their commander, being 
never able to make any considerable head afterward; and though 
the Earl of Dumferling pretended to manage them, yet several of 
the chief nobility and gentlemen came in, and craved the benefit of 
the proclamation of indemnity, which the King had published some 
time before, to all those who before the third of September should 
lay down their arms, and swear fidelity to King William and Queen 
Mary : and Colonel Cannon, who only maintained the interest of the 
late King, retreated with his few followers to the Isle of Mull, 
doubtful whether to continue longer there, or return to Ireland. 
Lieutenant General Mackay having put a garrison into the castle of 
Blair, returned to Edinburgh, where several Earls that were in 
prison had their liberty, giving sufficient security for their peaceable 
behaviour; so that several troops of the King's forces in that king- 
dom were embarked for Ireland. And about the same time the 
Parliament there passed several acts which were touched with the 
royal sceptre, by the Lord High Commissioner, and among others, 
an act for abolishing prelacy, purporting, " That whereas the estates 
of the kingdom, by their claim of right, April 1 1th last, had declared 
that prelacy and supremacy in any office in the church above Presby- 
tery had been a grievous burden to the nation ever since the refor- 
mation; that therefore the King and Queen's Majesty did abolish 
episcopacy, &c. and would establish that church government which 
was most agreeable to the people." 

And now the Parliament of England, having given the King 
plentiful supplies for the reduction of Ireland, the army marched 
from all parts towards Chester and Highlake, to embark under the 
Duke of Schomberg, consisting of near thirty thousand men, with 
great store of all sorts of ammunition and provisions, and consider- 
able sums of money, and his Majesty appointed a camp on Hounslow 
Heath for the remainder of the forces, August 14, which continued 



120 



THE HISTORY OF 



Only two or three days, and in the mean time a declaration of war 
was published against France in Scotland ; and now several English 
Protestants in the north of Ireland having got possession of the isle 
of Inniskilling, and the city of Londonderry, they resolved to defend 
them against King James, and his army of Irish Papists, who were 
marching from Dublin against them ; and hearing that Lieutenant- 
General Macarty was abroad with a strong detachment, plundering 
and ravaging the country, Lieutenant Colonel Berry fell upon them 
with such vigour, that it is judged three thousand of the Irish were 
slain and drowned in the Lough, near Newton- Butler, into which 
they desperately threw themselves, to escape the sword. King 
James arriving at Londonderry, imagined the terror of his arms 
would oblige the English to surrender the town upon his first ap- 
pearance, and though Colonel Lundy and others despaired of holding 
it against an army of forty thousand men, with a train of artillery 
and divers mortars, yet the enraged people resolved to defend it 
against the utmost efforts of the enemy, and having declared Mr. 
George Walker, a Minister, and Major Baker their Governor, they 
chose Colonels and other officers, and regimented their men, con- 
sisting in the whole of seven thousand and twenty soldiers, and three 
hundred and forty-one officers, and rejecting all the terms of sur- 
render offered them, they fired upon the enemy, and much astonished 
King James, who was within reach of their cannon, and expected 
they would have opened their gates to him, who thereupon resolved 
to reduce them by force, and within a day or two broke ground, and 
run their trenches within a furlong of the walls, where placing a de- 
miculverin, they battered the town, but with Jittle success, unless 
some small damage to the Market-house, the cannon from the town 
in the mean time killing many Irish ; and to prevent their further 
approach, the English made a sally, killing two hundred of the 
enemy, with Mamow, the French General, and other officers of note. 
Several other gallant sallies were made out of the town, in one of 
which above two hundred were killed, and five hundred wounded, 
with the loss of three English, and twenty wounded. June 4, the 
besieged made an attack upon the work near the windmill, and 
though the Irish came upon them with loud huzzas, and though the 
foot had faggots, and after those failed, took up dead bodies to defend 
themselves, and the horse were mostly in armour, yet they were 
beaten off, four thousand of them killed, and but a few English. 
In some of these attacks, Lieutenant Douglas and Captain Cunning- 
ham were taken prisoners^ and after quarter given, barbarously 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 



121 



killed. In the night the enemy played their bombs of two hundred 
and seventy-three pound weight, which ploughed up the streets, and 
killed several sick people ; and in the day time their cannon played 
incessantly against the walls, insomuch that the garrison by sickness, 
more than shot of the enemy, was reduced to six thousand one hun- 
dred and eighty-five men, and began to be distressed; but June 15, 
a fleet of thirty sail, under Major General Kirk, with men, provi- 
sions, and ammunition, for their relief, came into the Lough, and 
though some ships attempted to sail up the river, yet the fire of the 
enemy from the batteries on shore, and also a boom made of timber, 
chain and cable, across the narrowest part of the river, prevented 
their design; however, they contrived to give Major General Kirk 
an account of their extremity, and he sent an answer, assuring them, 
that they should suddenly be supplied with all necessaries, which he 
had aboard in abundance. The enemy being sensible of their exi- 
gencies, pressed on the siege with more vigour, under their new 
French Marshal, General Rosen, who by threats and promises, used 
his utmost efforts to reduce the town. June 30, Major Baker died, 
to the great regret of the besieged, and soon after the garrison was 
reduced to four thousand eight hundred and ninety-two men ; yet 
then they made a vigorous sally to fetch in some cattle, but did not 
succeed, losing a great number of their men. This made the famine 
increase in the city, so that horse-flesh was sold for twenty pence per 
pound, the quarter of a dog for five shillings and sixpence, a dog's 
head two shillings and sixpence, a cat four shillings and sixpence, 
and other things proportionably, as rats, mice, tallow, greves, &c. 
But now, when all hopes failed them, July 13, the Montjoy and 
Phoenix, convoyed by the Dartmouth frigate, and other men of war, 
came up to the town with little loss, r-hen they reckoned but upon 
two days life, hav ing only nine lean horses left, and one pint of meal 
to each man, four thousand two hundred only being left, whereof a 
fourth part were rendered unserviceable. The enemy perceiving 
that these ships had furnished the besieged with provisions, July 31, 
they raised the siege in some disorder, blowing up several castles, 
with all the houses down the river, and setting the country for ten 
miles in a flame in their retreat. 

August 13, 1689, the Duke of Schomberg landed at Carrickfergus 
with all the forces under his command, and the Protestants joining 
with him in great numbers, he soon reduced that town, and sent two 
regiments to Belfast; and the General having made Proclamation, • 
" That if the enemy continued to burn as they had begun, if any qf 

it 



THE HISTORY OF 



them fell into his hands, they must expect no quarter.'' They there- 
upon quitted Dundalk without any damage. After this, about five 
thousand Irish attempted to take Sligo, which was in the hands of 
the English; but the Inniskilling men, with about one thousand horse, 
foot, and dragoons, charged them with such celerity and courage, 
that seven hundred of them were cut off, and four hundred taken 
prisoners ; and besides arms and ammunition, eighteen thousand 
head of cattle were taken from them, which they had plundered the 
country people of. In November the English army decamped from 
the plains of Dunkalk to Lisnee-garvee and Lisburn, the enemy, 
though superior in number, having of late attempted little ; only one 
morning early, they had hopes of surprizing our advanced parties at 
Newry, killing the out centinels, and getting into the town, but were 
soon beaten out again by a party of Colonel Ingoldsby's regiment; 
and several other parties beat the enemy in divers places, and gained 
great booties of cattle. Colonel Woolsey defeated the Irish at Cavan, 
though the Duke of Berwick was sent to reinforce them, so that 
though the garrison consisted of four thousand men, yet three hun- 
dred of the enemy were killed, and among them many officers ; two 
hundred taken prisoners, and Cavan taken and burnt, which the 
English were constrained to do, to get the soldiers out of the town 
to resist the Irish, who made a strong sally out of the fort. 

In England her Royal Highness the Princess of Denmark was de- 
livered of a Prince in August, who was christened by the Lord 
Bishop of London, and named William, his Majesty being godfather, 
and her Majesty and the Queen of Denmark godmothers. October 
19, the Parliament met at Westminster, and granted his Majesty two 
millions sterling, towards the expense of the next year's war. In 
Scotland Colonel Cannon continued still in the Isle of Mull, with an 
inconsiderable party of islanders, and others. Some few rebels ap- 
peared about this time under the Lord of Lochelly, burning and 
plundering wherever they came ; about eight hundred marched out of 
Innerlochy, thinking to have surprized the fort of Inverness, but 
were defeated of their design. The Earl of Pembroke, upon his re- 
turn from being Ambassador in Holland to England, was made a 
Privy Councillor. Some persons were seized about this time, for 
endeavouring to raise disturbances against the government. 

December 16, 1689, an act was passed, declaring the rights and 
liberties of the subject, and settling the succession of the crown: 
" That whereas the Lords, spiritual and temporal, and Commons 
assembled at Westminster, lawfully, fully and freely, representing all 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 123 



the estates of the people of this realm, did, on February 13, 1688, 
present to their Majesties, then called and known by the names and 
style of William and Mary, Prince and Princess of Orange, being- 
present in their proper persons, a certain delarationin writing, made 
by i he said Lords and Commons (of which you have already an ac- 
count.) Upon which their said Majesties did accept the crown and 
royal dignity of these kingdoms, according to the resolution and de- 
sire of the said Lords and Commons contained in the said declaration, 
and thereupon their Majesties were pleased, that the Lords and 
Commons being the two Houses of Parliament should continue to 
sit, and with their royal concurrence to make effectual provision for 
the settlement of the religion, laws and liberties of this kingdom, so 
that the same for the future might not be in danger again of being 
subverted. Now in pursuance of the premises, the Lords, spiritual 
and temporal, and Commons in Parliament assembled, for the rati- 
fying, confirming, and establishing the said declaration, and the ar- 
ticles, clauses, matters and things therein contained, by the force of 
a law made in due form by authority of Parliament, do pray that it 
may be declared and enacted, that all and singular the rights and 
liberties asserted and claimed in the said declaration, are the true, 
ancient, and indubitable rights and liberties of the people of this 
kingdom, and so-shall be esteemed, allowed, adjudged, deemed, and 
taken to be, and that all and every the particulars aforesaid shall 
be firmly and strictly holden and observed, as they are expressed 
in the said declaration, and all officers and ministers whatsoever 
shall serve their Majesties and their successors according to the 
same in all times to come; and do further declare, that King James 
II. having abdicated the government, and their Majesties having ac- 
cepted the crown and royal dignity as aforesaid, did become, were, 
are, and of right ought to be, by the laws of this realm, our sovereign 
liege Lord and Lady, King and Queen of England, France, and 
Ireland, &c. And for preventing all questions and divisions, by 
reason of any pretended titles to the crown, and to preserve a cer- 
tainty in the succession, the Lords and Commons beseech their Ma- 
jesties that it may be enacted, established, and declared, that the 
crown and royal dignity shall be and continue in their Majesties du- 
ring their lives, and the life of the survivor of them ; and after their 
decease to the heirs of her Majesty; and in default of issue, to the 
Princess Ann of Denmark and her heirs; and for default of -such 
issue, to the heirs oi the body of his Majesty: and that the Parlia- 
ment in the name of the people will submit themselves and their 

n 2 



THE HISTORY OF 



heirs, and posterities for ever, and stand by, maintain, and defend 
this limitation and succession of the crown, to the utmost of their 
powers, with their lives and estates, against all that shall attempt 
any thing to the contrary. And whereas it hath been found by ex- 
perience, that it is inconsistent with the safety and welfare of this 
Protestant kingdom to be governed by a Popish Prince, or by any 
King or Queen marrying a Papist, they do further pray, that it may 
be enacted, that all persons that are Or shall be reconciled to, or 
hold communion with the see of Rome, or shall profess the Popish 
Religion, or shall marry a Papist, shall be excluded, and be for ever 
incapable to possess, inherit, or enjoy the crown and dignity of this 
kingdom, or Ireland, &c. And that in all such cases, the people 
are absolved from their allegiance, and the crown shall descend to 
the next heir being a Protestant, as should have inherited and en- 
joyed the same, as if the person so reconciled, or marrying, were 
naturally dead; and that every King and Queen that shall succeed 
hereafter, shall, on the first day of the meeting of their first Parlia- 
ment, sitting on the throne in the House of Peers, in the presence 
of the Lords and Commons, or at their coronation, which shall first 
happen, audibly repeat the declaration in the statute of the 30th of 
King Charles II. entitled, an act for the more effectual preserving 
the King's person and government, &c. But if such King and 
Queen shall be under the age of twelve years, then to perform the 
same the first Parliament after that age ; all which are by their Ma- 
jesties, by and with the consent of the Lords, spiritual and temporal, 
and Commons, declared, enacted, and established to stand, remain, 
and be the law of this realm for ever." 

About this time the Queen of Spain was convoyed by a squadron 
of English men of war from Holland to the Groin in Spain. Fe- 
bruary 6, the Parliament was dissolved, and another summoned to 
appear at Westminster, March 20th following, who accordingly met, 
and confirmed all the acts of the preceding Parliament, passing many 
others, both for raising money, for carrying on the present war, and 
for the benefit of the people. In Scotland some attempts were made 
by the rebels, for in 'May, 1690, the Colonels Bucan and Cannon 
being with two thousand men (which they expected to be four thou- 
sand in a few days) at their rendezvous at Stratspey, Sir Thomas 
Levingstone, upon notice thereof, marched toward them with his 
forces, and surprizing them in the night in their camp, killed four 
hundred, and took one hundred prisoners, most gentlemen and 
officers, Bucan and Cannon hardly escaping, upon which the castle 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 125 



of Lethindy, in which the enemy had a garrison under Colonel 
Bucan's nephew, surrendered at discretion, in which was found store 
of arms, and ammunition, with four hundred bolls of meal, and the 
standard designed to have been set up by the late King James; and 
yet in this whole action it was very remarkable, that the English lost 
not one man, and had only four or five wounded. 

In Ireland affairs proceeded very successfully, for May 11, the 
strong garrison of Charlemont surrendered upon articles, the Gover- 
nor Teage of Regan, and the Irish, about eight hundred strong, 
having almost consumed all their provisions, marched out, leaving a 
good quantity of ammunition, seventeen brass cannon, and two mor- 
tars. The King now resolved, if possible, to make a sudden re- 
duction of Ireland, that it might no longer be a diversion from his 
attacking the French vigorously in Flanders; and in pursuit of this v 
magnanimous design, his Majesty concluded to go thither in person, 
by his presence and conduct to facilitate the same, and accordingly, 
June 4, 1690, with a splendid equipage, parted from Whitehall, 
and coming to Chester, embarked on the fleet attending him, and 
June 14, landed at Carickfergus, being received by Duke Bckoniberg, 
the army and all the Protestants, with general joj', and loud accla- 
mations ; and from thence his Majesty marched with his forces in 
two bodies, and encamped at Dundalk, intending to go for Dublin, 
or else oblige the enemy to a battle, which the late King James was 
aware of, and therefore with his army, which consisted of about 
thirty-six thousand Irish and French, besides fifteen thousand in 
garrisons. He marched from Dublin towards Drogheda, but seemed 
to distrust his success, for to provide for the worst, he sent an order 
to Waterford, to prepare ships for carrying him off. June 31, King 
William resolving to force the enemy to fight or retreat, marched by 
break of day.from his camp at Ardee toward Drogheda, and found 
the Irish army encamped along the river Boyne, above the town; 
and according to his usual conduct, with undaunted resolution, he 
passed the river, notwithstanding the utmost opposition of the enemy, 
and fell upon them with such fury, that in a few hours their whole 
army were utterly routed and dispersed, about three thousand being 
killed, and divers prisoners of note taken, most of the enemy's bag- 
gage, as chariots, tents, arms, cannon, ammunition and provisions, 
and some money falling into the hands of our soldiers. The late 
King Jemes, who had stood at a distance to see the fight, perceiving 
the defeat of his forces, fled with all speed toward Dublin, with a 
very few attendants, and having staid there one night, filling the 



126 



THE HISTORY OP 



place with fear and confusion, upon an alarm that King William was 
on his way thither, accompanied with the Duke of Berwick, the 
Marquis of Powis, and some others, he left the city, and hastened 
to Waterford, where a ship lay ready for him, having neither slept 
nor eat till he got out to sea, and stood away for France. Upon 
this the Protestants at Dublin, who were imprisoned, had their li- 
berty, and a few days after the King arrived there, to the unspeak- 
able joy of the people. The loss oi the English in obtaining this 
great victory was not* considerable, only Duke Schomberg and 
Doctor Walker were both slain. After this, Waterford, Wexford, 
and several other places were reduced, and upon a proclamation of 
pardon, many of the Irish laid down their arms, and returned to 
their former places of abode. 

This glorious success was somewhat clouded nearer home, for the 
French King, to favour his design in Ireland, had now set forth the 
greatest fleet that ever sailed on the ocean out of France, and stood 
toward our coast, as if they designed to fight our navy under the 
Earl of Torrington, who, June 24, sailed from St. Helens toward 
them. They were seen the night before ofF Freshwater Gate, in the 
Isle of Wight; but the wind taking them short, the Admiral came 
to an anchor off Dunnose, five leagues off the French, so that a 
battle was soon expected, which the enemy did not seem to decline ; 
the English seamen were also full of courage, and desirous to en- 
gage: but the French being much stronger both for number and 
bigness of ships, consisting of eighty-two men of war, besides fire- 
ships and tenders, it was not thought fit to fight in the open sea, so 
that the Earl of Torrington avoided it, till he came to Bevesire, off 
Beachy, which was favourable for his purpose, and there he re- 
ceived the Queen's orders not to delay engaging, if the wind and 
weather would permit, which was the reason that we went to seek 
the enemy, who expected us in order of battle, and about nine in 
the morning the engagement began. The Dutch that had the van-, 
guard frought bravely, and both sides fired desperately three hours, 
till the French, not liking their entertainment, bore away with all 
speed; but about one o'clock there happened a calm, which not only 
prevented the Hollander's pursuit, but put them into a little disorder. 
The French not being able to get away, were constrained to begin 
the fight again, which lasted till five in the evening with extraordi- 
nary fury. As for the English, some few fought well ; but the Ad- 
miral's unexpected standing away prevented them from seconding 
the Dutch, so that the rest stood lookers on, while the main body of 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 



127 



the French fell into the rear of the Dutch, who having fought from 
morning till night, and defended themselves so long against a pro- 
digious number of the enemy that assailed them on every side, they 
were so much battered, tliat hardly three were capable of making 
any defence, which constrained them to make their way through the 
French fleet to the coast of England. The Hollanders lost two 
Admirals and a Captain ; and some of their ships, that could not be 
got off, were burnt. The Eng-lish lost two sea, and two marine 
Captains. Admiral Evertson declared that all the Dutch officers 
and seamen had done their duties ; and had ours engaged heartily, 
no doubt the French had gone home in a worse condition than the 
Spaniards did in 1jS8. After the fight, the French fleet sailed west- 
ward, and sent their boats ashore at Teignmouth, a small village of 
fishermen's cots, which they set on fire, with two or three small 
vessels in the harbour, and stealing a few sheep, after having lain 
some time on our coast to little purpose, they returned to Brest. 

At the time the French lay off the coasts of Kent, one Godfrey 
Cross, an innkeeper in that county, was seen to go on board one of 
their boats, which carried him to the fleet, whereupon, at his re- 
turn, he was seized, and treasonable letters being found about him 
he was committed prisoner, and soon after tried for high treason at 
the King's Bench bar, Westminster, and being convicted was 
hanged and quartered for the same, and care was taken by her Ma- 
jesty, in whom the regency resided during the King's absence, to 
put the militia of the counties into such a posture, as to defeat any 
evil designs of the enemies to the government; and the militia of 
London, consisting of about ten thousand men, made a gallant ap- 
pearance before her Majesty at Hyde Park, and declared their cheer- 
ful resolution to defend their Majesties and the government against 
all its opponents, and the whole militia of England, computed to 
be about one hundred and fifty thousand, horse and foot, shewed 
the same forwardness. Upon complaint against the Earl of Tor- 
rington for the miscarriage of the fleet, he was committed by the 
council to the Tower. After the French had quitted our coasts and 
were gone into harbour, the militia were discharged, and all dili- 
gence was used to repair and equip the fleet for sea. 

About this time we had news of the great success of the English 
against the French in the West Indies, having beaten them out of 
St. Christophers, and many other considerable places, and taken 
great booties of cattle, corn, and other stores and provisions, and 
that we had reduced the fort in the island of Statie, and two of our 



128 



THE HISTORY OF 



privateers falling in with twelve French merchantmen bound for St, 
Maloes, under the convoy of a frigate of twelve guns, took four 
of them, forcing the rest on shore about Cherbourg, where they 
were all shipwrecked, except the frigate, and most of the men 
drowned. 

The rebels in Scotland, promising themselves great advantages 
from the French being on our coasts, and being deceived by false 
reports, fifteen hundred of them got together in the county of Mur- 
ray, under Buchan and Cannon, threatening the people to burn and 
destroy their houses and goods if they did not join with them ; but 
Sir Thomas Levingstone advancing, by speedy marches, came upon 
them so surprisingly, that they made little resistance, but fled with 
all imaginable confusion, and being pursued, four hundred of them 
were killed, and the rest totally routed and taken prisoners, with 
a great quantity of claret and other provisions, and a great number 
of officers were brought to Edinburgh and committed to the Tol- 
booth. Soon after, the remaining rebels who escaped, designed 
to have surprized the garrison of Inverness, but were happily pre- 
vented and defeated by the Earl of Drumlanerigand Major- General 
Mackay. 

In Ireland, the King having secured Dublin in safe hands, caused 
his army to march towards Limerick, where Tyrconnel and Lauzun 
had drawn together the late King's broken forces, and having made 
their approaches, against all opposition, his Majesty ordered the 
trenches to be opened, and planted several batteries of cannon, 
which made great breaches in the walls, and a general assault was 
expected, but on August 28, at night, the rains fell so excessively, 
that the rivers overflowed, and the garrison being extremely strong, 
the King, to spare his men, and to avoid the many inconveniences 
of the approaching season, was pleased to order the raising the 
siege, and refer the reducing the city till a more favourable oppor- 
tunity; after which his Majesty returned for England, and was 
received with all imaginable expressions of joy throughout the 
kingdom. 

About this time a fleet was prepared by his Majesty's order, con- 
sisting of thirty-two English, and twenty-eight Dutch men of war, 
on board of whom were embarked eight regiments of foot, besides 
the marine regiments, commanded by the Earl of Marlborough as 
General, and Mr. Trelawney as Major- General, who, on the 21st 
of September, arrived at Cork, in Ireland, which was obliged to 
surrender upon articles, and soon after Kingsale ran the same fate. 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 



129 



An horrible design of the Irish was now discovered to have set the 
city of Dublin on fire, but it was happily discovered and prevented. 

In October the parliament met again at Westminster, and con- 
gratulated his Majesty's safe return, and likewise returned theii 
humble acknowledgments to her Majesty for her goodness, wisdom, 
and courage, manifested in the greatest dangers, even when a 
powerful enemy was upon the coasts. The Earl of Torrington was 
tried on board the Kent, in the river Medway, by a jury of sea 
captains, and, after a long hearing of the witnesses and his defence, 
upon a long debate, he was acquitted. The parliament continued 
to sit, and passed many acts, both for supplying his Majesty for the 
war and settling the kingdom, to whom the King gave an account, 
that the posture of affairs abroad required his presence at the 
Hague; and, accordingly, on the 6th of January, his Majesty left 
Whitehall, attended by the great officers of his household, and di- 
vers others of the nobility and gentry, and soon after arrived in 
Holland, though with some difficulty, by reason of the ice. At the 
Hague his Majesty was received with great joy, which they ex- 
pressed by erecting several triumphal arches, redounding to the 
glory of his gallant achievements, since his Majesty left that country. 

And now a conspiracy was discovered, managed by several per- 
sons, for introducing our former bondage and slavery, and the Lord 
Preston, John Ashton, and Edmond Eliot were seized, as they were 
designing to go for France, with letters and papers of pernicious 
consequence; and on the 17th of January the Lord Preston was tried 
for high treason at the Old Bailey, and two days after Mr. Ashton, 
who were both found guilty; and Mr. Ashton was executed for the 
same, but the Lord Preston was reprieved, together with one Crone, 
formerly sentenced upon the same account, and the trial of Eliot 
was deferred ; after which a proclamation was issued out, for appre- 
hending Dr. Turner, late bishop of Ely, William Pen, and James 
Graham, Esquires. 

The Duke of Savoy, whose family had for above an hundred 
years past been trampled on by France, and would at this day have 
been entirely enslaved by that King, took this favourable occasion to 
set himself at liberty, while all Europe almost lends him a helping 
hand, and thereupon some months since he declared openly against 
that crown, and released and gave liberty to all his Protestant sub- 
jects, and entertained them into his service, entering likewise into 
the confederacy with the Princes and states of Christendom, now in 
arms to reduce that grand usurper to reason, and incapacitate him 

s 



130 THE HISTORY OF 

from being any longer dangerous to his neighbours. And in the latter 
end of 1690, his Highness sent an envoy to congratulate their Ma- 
jesties accession to the throne, and to express his passionate desire 
to unite himself to his Majesty's friendship, by an indissoluble 
union. 

Upon the King's arrival at the Hague, several Princes daily came 
thither, as well to have the honour to wait upon his Majesty, as to 
confer about the state of affairs. March 5, the King, accompanied 
by the Duke of Zell, and several of his own nobility, departed for 
Loo, and by the way had news that the French had invested the city 
of Mons the day before; upon which his Majesty ordered the Dutch 
troops to march immediately into Flanders, to the general rendez- 
vous, and soon after followed in person, being received in the camp 
with extraordinary joy, that they should fight under the banners of 
so undaunted a Prince. The French King arrived before the town 
live days after the siege began, having amassed all his forces toge- 
ther upon this enterprize, leaving only sufficient to defend their gar- 
risons, so that by their continual firing and attacks, and the folly of 
the burghers, who would not admit above six thousand men into the 
town, whereas they ought to have had at least four thousand horse, 
and ten thousand foot. This important place was taken in eight 
day's time, the Governor not being able to make such vigorous 
sallys as he might have done, because he was willing to spare his 
men ; but the burghers being by this means stronger than the garri- 
son, obliged the Prince of Berghes to a surrender, before the confe- 
derates could possibly have leisure to relieve the town. After which 
the French King returned to Versailles, and King William came 
back to England, viewing some part of the fleet in his return, and 
arrived safe at Whitehall, where his Majesty nominated several new 
Bishops to succeed those that had forfeited their bishopricks, by re- 
fusing to swear allegiance to their Majesties. He likewise took a 
view of the troops that were to go to Flanders ; and having provided 
for the security of the kingdom, and happily settled all affairs in 
Scoland and Ireland, his Majesty declared his resolution of return- 
ing into Flanders, and arrived May 2, 1691, in the army encamped 
within two miles' of Brussels, being about seventy thousand strong, 
and the French under the Duke of Luxemburg no less numerous. 
And in July Ballimore and Athlone, in Ireland, were taken by Ge- 
neral Ginkle, and the Prince of Wirtemburg. Monsieur St. Ruth, 
the French King's General, being killed in the great battle at Agram 
soon after, with the loss of seven thousand of the Irish, and the 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 131 



taking of Galloway, which followed, with most of the other forts, 
and castles, and towns, except Limerick, which was also invested 
the latter end of August; upon which Lieutenant General Sarsheld, 
who was retired to the mountains with four thousand horse and dra- 
goons, resolved to return to that city, 1 but was met by General 
Ginkle, and a party of the English, who so vigorous y charged 
them, that they instantly fled, and were pursued to the very gates 
of the town^ above six hundred Irish being slain, and seventy 
officers taken prisoners. The besieged seeing themselves shut up 
within the walls of one single town, which was now almost battered 
down about their ears, homeless of succour, and reduced to the last 
extremities, October 13, surrendered up Limerick upon articles, 
whereby all Ireland was wholly reduced to their Majesties obedience. 

In Flanders, September 19, there happened an engagement be- 
tween the French and confederate armies, in the absence of the King 
of England, who finding he could not oblige the enemy to a battle, 
departed to Brussels, and from thence to Loo, in order to his return 
for England, leaving the command of the army to Prince Waldeck, 
who decamping from Leuse to retire to Cambron, the enemy having 
notice thereof, detached about thirty squadrons, who marched all 
night ; and by the favour of a thick mist, unexpectedly fell upon 
fifteen squadrons of the confederates rear guard. The conflict was 
very sharp, and though inferior in number, yet the allies made a 
vigorous defence, till several other regiments came up to their re- 
lief, which caused the enemy to retreat. The French lost near seven 
hundred men, with many officers, and the confederates about the 
same number; after which, both armies went into winter quarters. 

The English and Holland fleets, under the command of Admiral 
Russell, had in vain sought to engage the French this summer at sea, 
and having lain some time on the coast of Ireland, to prevent the 
French from sending forces thither, came now into harbour, after a 
very tempestuous season, and the Holland fleet separated, and 
safely arrived in their several ports, and the French fleet returned 
to Brest. His Majesty being returned to England", October 19, and 
the Parliament sitting, the King declared himself to them, who 
thereupon unanimously resolved to raise such supplies as should en- 
able him to continue the war with France; and in March following, 
his Majesty arrived again in Holland, and from thence went to Loo, 
where several Princes met him, to concert the affairs of the next 
campaign. He having an army of thirty thousand English in Flan- 
ders this summer, March 26, 1692, the Elector of Bavaria, who was 

s 2 



132 



THE HISTORY OF 



made Governor of the Spanish Netherlands during life, arrived at 
Brussels, bAng received there with much joy and solemnity. 

His Majesty having- designed to make a descent upon France this 
summer, the news so alarmed the French King, that he resolved to 
land some forces in England, and Kiug James at the head of them; 
some Jacobites and discontented people here ha ving' given him as- 
surance of joining with him upon his landing, to which end the 
French King supplied ships, troops, and Louis d'ors, so that no- 
thing was wanting but to cross the sea, and a squadron of sixteen ships 
and two bombing vessels were fitting at Toulon, under Count d'Estree, 
to convoy the transport ships thither, under the protection of the 
French fleet, commanded by Vice Admiral Tourville in the Channel, 
to prevent the joining of the Dutch and English fleets, and to fight 
all that should oppose their passage ; but Providence ordered the 
winds and rocks to fight d'Estree, he losing two of his largest ships 
near Centa, on the coast of Africa, and the rest, miserably shattered, 
went to Portugal to refit, so that instead of being at Brest the begin- 
ning of April, he did not arrive there till the beginning of July, and 
came a minute too late, as he said, to join Tourville. The Queen of 
England, upon notice of the embarking of so many men, gave out 
all necessary orders for securing the coasts, and several horses were 
seized, whose owners designed to have joined the enemy upon their 
descent, which was intended to have been about Portsmouth and the 
Isle of Wight. King James with his Irish forces were come to 
Cherbourg, upon the coast of Normandy, and Monsieur Tourville 
had great confidence in the courage of his French mariners, upon 
King James's assurance that the English would not fight, but be 
spectators only. 

The English and Dutch fleets being happily joined, without any 
obstruction from the enemy, Admiral Russell set sail from St. He- 
lens, and on the 19th of May got sight of the French fleet near 
Cape Barfleur. Admiral Tourville, having the wind, hastened up to 
the English, but the wind slackening, the French vanguard of fif- 
teen great men of war could not come up to the English till eleven 
next morning. Five of the fifteen did their duty, but the other ten 
kept out of cannon shot. The Dutch were not able to come up, the 
wind being in their teeth. The fight lasted between them that 
could engage about three hours, and then the French made all the 
. sail they could to get away, and the Dutch had much ado to turn 
their ships to follow them, by reason of the calm, during which the 
two main bodies of the fleet laboured to the utmost to come up with 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 



133 



the enemy, and being happily got up with them engaged resolutely 
for four hours, and then Tourville, as his vanguard had done before, 
retreated with all speed, and, by the favour of a mist, got out of 
sight. In the afternoon the English blue squadron, which could not 
come up for the calm, fell upon the French blue squadron, where 
the most obstinate fight was maintained, till the night and mists 
gave opportunity to the enemy to hasten toward their own coasts. 
The next day being clear, Admiral Russell discovered them two 
leagues off, but could not come up, by reason of a sudden mist. 
About eleven at night the French weighed anchor by moon-light, 
and the confederates pursued them, who, to save themselves, ven- 
tured among the rocks of Jersey and Guernsey. On the 21st of 
May the admiral, discovering several men of war upon a bank, 
near Cape Barfleur, detached Vice-Admiral Delaval, with eight 
or nine vessels and three fire ships, to set fire to them, which next 
day was happily effected. The Royal Sun, that magnificent ship, 
commanded by Admiral Tourville, which was the wonder of the 
world, both for the exquisiteness of her carving and the beauty of 
her shape, being twenty years in building, by the most skilful 
shipwrights in Europe, carrying one hundred and ten guns, the Ad- 
mirable, of one hundred and two, and the Strong, of eighty guns, 
with two less frigates and three transport ships, were all sacrificed 
to the flames, and the next day twelve more were burnt in a bay 
behind the Isle of Aldernay, and this without the loss of one Eng- 
lish or Dutch ship ; the rest of the French fleet fled to Brest, St. 
Maloes, and other ports, to secure themselves. King James was 
upon a hill, and through a perspective glass saw the fight; and, 
upon the first firing of the English, he declared, that it was onl\ a 
signal for them to come over to the French ; but he soon found him- 
self deceived, and that it was Admiral Russell he had to do withal, 
and that the intrigues of his jacobites had not succeeded. Thus it 
pleased heaven to crown their Majesties navy with a glorious vic- 
tory, and to preserve us from the chains prepared for us by the two 
dear allies; for notwithstanding the specious declaration published 
by King James, upon his assurance of being restored, yet we have 
all the reason in the world to believe, his pardon would not have 
secured the nation from Popish vengeance, but that we should have 
all felt the utmost effects of his rage and fury, as well as the ho- 
nourable and worthy persons following, whom he excluded from all 
hopes of mercy, that is, the Duke of Ormond, the Marquis of Win- 
chester; the Earls of Sunderland, Bath, Danby, and Nottingham; 



134 



THE HISTORY OF 



the Lords Newport, Delamere, Wiltshire, Colchester, Cornbury, 
Dumblane, and Churchill; the bishops of St. Asaph and London; 
Dr. Tiliotson and Dr. Burnet; Knights, Sir Ro. Howard, Sir J. 
Worden, Sir S. Grimston, Sir S. Fox, Sir George Treby, Sir Basil 
Dixwel, and Sir John Oxenden ; Esquires, F. Russel, K. Levison, 
J. Trenchard, C. Duncomb, citizens of London; Edwards, Naple- 
ton, and Hunt, fishermen, with all others that offered indignities 
to him at Feversham, with Ash ton and Crosse's judges and jury- 
men; -also all spies, and those that have betrayed his councils in his 
absence. 

May 15, 1692, the French army, after having made many marches 
and countermarches, invested the strong fortress of Namur, being 
encouraged thereto by the treacherous Baron de Bersey, who, being 
born a subject of Spain, and having received some disgust from 
that court, was corrupted by the French, and, making his escape 
out of the town, informed the enemy of the condition thereof, 
which he had got full information of by his intimacy with the go- 
vernor, the Prince of Brabancon, so as to inform them of the best 
p'aces for the attack, which was strong and yet weak, so that the 
town surrendered in five days ; and awhile after William's fort and 
castle were likewise delivered up. It is very well known, that the 
King of England took all the pains imaginable, to get his army of 
several nations together before the siege ; and that the Duke of Lux- 
emburg, who lay with a strong detachment to cover the besiegers, 
used all manner of caution to avoid a battle, by encamping in places 
where he could not be assaulted, being sufficiently acquainted with 
the temper of King William, to whom it was natural to despise dan- 
ger, and who pushed on the relief of the place to the utmost; for as 
soon as he came to Mehaine, he instantly caused bridges to be built 
in the night to cross the river next morning, and to attack Duke 
Luxemburg in the morasses, which he had certainly done, if a very 
extraordinary rain had not fallen, and if all the Generals had not 
unanimously dissuaded him from it, because of the impossibility of 
forming a line of battle in a place so full of water. After the surren- 
der of Namur, the King being informed that the Duke of Luxem- 
burg was upon his march from Enguien, resolved to advance, with 
all speed, to the same place, but the French got there before him, 
and posted themselves between that place and Steinkerken, among* 
hedges and woods : however, King William resolved to attack him 
there, which much surprized Luxemburg, who, upon view of the 
advantageous situation of his camp, had said, u That none but an 



KING WILLIAM AND QUEEN MARY. 135 



Alexander or a Caesar durst attack him in that place:" but it was 
Williaru the Great who performed that part, and marching silently 
all night, fell upon the French with such fury next morning, that, 
in a few hours, above seven thousand of the enemy were slain, with 
a great number of nobility and officers, and afterwards retreated at 
leisure, the French not having the courage to follow them, so that 
the attack and retreat were equally glorious, the King having ex- 
posed himself amidst the cannon and musket shots where the fight 
was hottest, riding continually from one end to the other to give 
necessary orders, so that it was next to a miracle that his sacred 
person was preserved among so many imminent dangers. Thus his 
Majesty gloriously ended this campaign by a signal victory over 
the French at sea, and by having several times braved his enemies 
by land, harassing them by his continual marches, and attacking 
them in their entrenchments, seeking only an opportunity of putting 
an end to the war by a general battle, and so to procure to Europe 
a solid and durable peace. 

On the contrary, the French King dares never to appear at the 
head of his troops, but endeavours to make himself renowned by 
treachery, and violation of oaths: these are his fortress; and as- 
sassinations, and poisonings are crime-, which in that court are not 
prohibited, witness the valet de chambre who poisoned the Duke of 
Lorrain ; the French cook, who, at the instigation of the French 
ambassador, poisoned Mr. Harbord, at Belgrade, for being vigorous 
in procuring a peace betwixt the Emperor and the Turks: and, 
lastly, the Sieur de Granval, who, with some others, was hired by 
the Marquis of Barbesieux, secretary to the FrenchJving, to murder 
King William, being also encouraged thereto by King James and 
his Queen, who told him. K If you and the rest do me this service, 
you shall never want:" but this horrid villainy being happily disco- 
vered, Granval was. about this time, deservedly executed for the 
same. In October, his Majesty returned again to England, and the 
parliament being met, he made a gracious speech to them, after 
which they unanimously voted a supply of near five millions, for 
carrying on a vigorous war against France. 

Having thus given a brief account of the most considerable trans- 
actions in these kingdoms, till the beginning of thje year 1693, and 
the fifth of their Majesties happy reign, I shall here conclude, and 
that they may continue to reign long and prosperously over us, 
ought to be the prayer of every good Protestant throughout these 
three nations. 



INDEX 

Of Names of Persons, 



Adolphus, of Nassau, 6 v 
Albert, Archduke, 20 
Albert, John, Count of Solms, 22 
Albeville, Marquis de, 51, 52, 55 
Allemond, Vice-Admiral. 53 
Alenson, Duke of, 10 
Alva, Duke of, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 
Alvarez, 7 

Anastro, Gaspar de, 14 
Anglesey, 73 
Angus, Earl of, 119 
Anhault, J. G. Duke of, 23 
Anjou and Alenson, Duke of, 10, 

13, 15^ 16 
Ann, Princess of Denmark, 103 
Arembergh, Count, 6 
Argyle, Earl of, 51, 111, 112 
Arran, Earl of, 89 
Ashby, Colonel, 37 
Ashby, Capt. 116 
Ashton, John, 129 
Austria, Don John of, 9, 10 
Avaux, Count de, 48 
Aylesbury, Lord, 87 
Aylmer, Capt. 116 
Baker, Major, 120, 121 



Balcarris, Lord ? 116, 117 
Balfour, Lieutenant- Colonel, 117 
Barlemont, Count, 4 
Barnewell, 23 

Bartard, Henry, of Castille, 11 
Bath, Earl of, 64, 77, 133 
Bavaria, Duke of, 115, 131 
Bentwick, the Sieur, 62 
Berghen, Prince of, 130 
Bergnes, Count Henry of, 21 
Berwick, Duke of, 78, 93, 122, 

126 
Berry, 120 

Bersey, Baron de, 134 
Beverning, Monsieur, 24 
Biron, Count, 16 
Bourbon, Eleonora, 19 
Brabancon, Prince of, 21 
Brabant, Duke of, 12 
Brandenburg, Frederic William, 

Elector of, 23, 34, 44, 46, 59 
Brandenburg, Duke of, 35 
Brown, John, 104 
Bucan, Colonel, 124, 125, 128 
Burnet, Dr. Gilbert, Bishop of 

Salisbury, 64, 65, 107, 134 



INDEX OF NAMES OF PERSONS. 1ST 



Calvo, 36 

Cambridge, Vice Chancellor of, 

54 

Campbell, Lieutenant, 81 
Cannon, Colonel, 118, 119, 122, 
124 

Canterbury, Archbishop of, 54, 

67, 72, 73 
Cardross, 11 
Castillon, Admiral, 3, 7 
Castlemain, Earl of, 53 
Catherina, 23 
Catinat, Monsieur, 51 
Cellier, Mrs. 57 

Chalon, Philibert, Prince of 

Orange, 2 
Chamilly, Marquis of, 34 
Charles 1. K. 22 
Charles II. K. 26, 38, 41, 43, 51, 

124 

Charles V. K. 2, 10, 11 

Churchill, Lord, 78, 79, 134 

Clarendon, Earl of, 53 

Claudia (Sister to o the Prince of 
Orange) 2 

Claverhouse, 116 

Cleland, Lieutenant Col. 119 

Colchester, Lord, 75, 134 

Cologne, Elector of, 30 

Cologni, Admiral, 7 

Cologny, Lovise de, 15 

Conde, Prince of, 19, 28, 31, 32, 
33, 35, 45 

Copley, Colonel, Deputy Gover- 
nor of Hull, 77 

Cornbury, Lord, 78, 134 

Cottrell, Sir Charles, 111 

Courland, Prince of, 34 

Crequi, Monsieur, 35, 36, 39 

Crone, 129 

Cross, Godfrey, 127 



Culenburgh, Count, 5 
Cunningham, Capt. 120 
Dalrymple, Sir John, 111 
D'Avaux, Monsieur, 59 
Danby, Ear) of, 77, 133 
Delabody, Mr. 90 
Delamere, Lord, 75, 77, 87, 134 
Delaval, Vice-Admiral, 133 
Denmark, King of, 44 
Denmark, Queen of, 122 
Denmark, William, Prince of, 122 
Denmark, Princess of, 58, 78, 

80, 122, 123 
Denmark, George, Prince of, 78 
Dixwel, Sir B, 134 
Douglas, Lieutenant, 120 
Drumlanering, Earl of, 128 
Dumblane, Earl of, 134 
Dumferling, Earl of, 118, 119 
Duncomb, C. Esq. 134 
Dundee, Viscount, 111, 116, 118 
Egmont, Count, 3, 4, 5 
Elector Palatine, 115 
Eliot, Edmund, 129 
Elizabeth, Queen of England, 

13, 19 
Ely, Bishop of, 73, 86 
Engilbert, 1 
Everston, Admiral, 127 
Exeter, Bishop of, 81 
Fagel, Jasper, 24 
Fagel, Monsieur, 26 
Fagel, Minheer, 55 
Fairfax, Lord, 77 
Farieux, Monsieur, 28 
Fenwick, Colonel, 37 
Feurarier, Lady, 58 
Feversham, Earl of, 40, 78, 84, 

87, 91 
Florence, Duke of, 85 
Foxe, Sir Stephen, 48, 131 



138 



INDEX OF NAMES OF PERSONS. 



Francis I. 2 
Francis, Alban, 54 
Furstemburgh, Cardinal, 59 
Gerrard, Baltazar, 17 
Ginkle, General, 130 
Gloucester, Duke of, 35 
Godolphin, Lord, 81, 82,88 
Gordon, Duke o$ 109, 118 
Graham, J. Esq. 129 
Grana, Marquis, Governor of 

Flanders, 48 
Granville, Cardinal, 3, 4, 5, 11 
Grimston, Sir S. 134 
Grovelin, Governor of, 14 
Guise, Duke of, 7 
Guyon, Francis, 16 
Hacket, Captain, 1 19 
Hales, Sir Edward, 81 
Halifax, Marquis of, 81, 82, 87, 

98 

Hamilton, Duke of, 97, 112, 118 
Head, Sir Richard, 89 
Hein, Vice-Admiral, 21 
Henrietta, 23 

Henry III. King of France, 10 
Henry IV. 45 

Henry Frederick, of Nassau, 

Prince of Orange, 15, 21 
Henry, Prince, 2, 8, 22, 23 
Henry, Prince William, 23 
Herbert, Admiral, 63, 116 
Hermosa, Duke de Villa, 35, 36, 
37 

Hicks, Captain, 64 
Hollo way, Judge, 58 
Horn, Count, 3, 5 
Howard, Sir J. 134 
Humienes, Marshal de, 30, 36, 
44 

Huntington, Earl of, 77 



Hunt, Edward, 134 
Ingoldsby, Colonel, 122 
Isabella, the Infanta, 19 
James, King, 51, 60 
James II. King, 99, 100, 101 

105, 108, 115, 116, 117, 120 

125, 132, 135 
James VII. King, 111 
JefFeries, Chancellor, 81 
Joanille, 14 

Kirk, Major General, 121 
L'Abadie, Lady, 58, 61 
Lanier, Sir John, 118 
Langdale, Lord, 77 
Lauzan, 128 
Leicester, Earl of, 20 
Leige, Bishop of, 1 15 
Levingstone, Sir Thomas, 124 
128 

Levison, R. Esq ..134 
Lewis, Prince, 4, 6, 8 
Lochelly, Lord of, 122 
Lochone, Lord, 117 
Lodowick, Count of, 4 
London, Lord Bishop of, 53, 54 

122, 134 
Louis XIII. 45 
Louis XIV. 45, 115 
Lovelace, Lord, 75 
Lovison, 23 
Lucas, Lord, 85 
Lundy, Colonel, 120 
Luxemburg, Duke of, 27, 28, 

30, 38, 39, 41, 42, 130, . 134 
Mackay, Major General, 64, 

116, 118, 119 
Mamow, General, 120 
Mansfield, Count, 20 
Margaret, of Austria, 3 
Marlborough, Earl of, 128 



INDEX OF NAMES OF PERSONS. 



139 



Mary, Queen, 103, 104, 107, 111, 
115, 119, 123, 126 

Mary, Princess, 22 

Matthias, Archduke, 11 

Maurice, of Nassau, Prince of 
Orange, 19, 20, 21 

Maximilian, King of the Ro- 
mans, 1 

Melfort, Secretary, 116 

Middleton, 87, 88 

Molineux, Lord, 77 

Montal, Count, 39 

Monterey, Count de, 31 

Montgomery, Lord, 77 

Montgomery, Sir James, 111 

Monmouth, Duke of, 41, 51, 105 

Montmorency, Count de, 35 

Mordaunt, Lord, 64 

Moscovy, Envoy of, 48 

Munster, Bishop of, 27, 28, 30, 
115 

Napleton, Edward, 134 
Nassau, Henry, 2 
Nassau, Count John of, 21, 23 
Nassau, Philip William of, 18 
Newberg, Duke of, 115 
Newport, Lord, 134 
Nottingham, Earl of, 81, 82, 
133 

Orange, Prince William of, 2, 
3,4,5,6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 
15, 18 

Orange, Princess Mary of, 40, 55, 
100 

Orleans, Duke of, 36, 38 
Orleans, Duchess of, 36, 38 
Ormond, Duke of, 133 
Ossory, Earl of, 52 
Otho, Count of Nassau, 1 
Overkirk, Monsieur, 42, 62 
Oxenden, Sir J. 134 

t 2 



Palatine, Count, 8 
Parma. Duke of, 19 
Parma, Prince of, 15, 17 
Pedro, Don, 11 
Pembroke, Earl of, 86, 122 
Pen, W. Esq. 129 
Peters, Father, 81, 83 
Philip, King, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11. 18, 
19 

Philip, Archduke, 1 
Powis, Marquis of, 126 
Powel, J udge, 58 
Powle, Henry, Esq. 94, 98 
Preston, Lord, 129 
Rabenhaupt, General, 34 
Requesones, Lewis, 8, 9 
Revens, Prince of Orange, 2 
Rochefort, Marquis of, 35 
Rochester, Bishop of, 73 
Rodolphus, Emperor of Ger- 
many, 10, 11, 115 
Rosen, General, 121 
Ross, Lord, 111 
Russell, Admiral, 131, 132, 133 
Russell, T. Esq. 134 
Ruth, Monsieur, St. 130 
Sarsfield, General, 81, 131 
Savoy, Duke of, 51, 129 
Saxony, Prince Elector of, 53 
Schomberg, Marshal, 36, 62, 78, 

119, 121, 125, 126 
Scott, Sir Edward, 93 
Sharp, Rev. Dr. 53 
Sheldon, Mr. Ralph, 90 
Shovel, Captain, 116 
Shrewsbury, Lord, 87 
Simeren, Duke of, 23 
Skelton, Colonel Beril, 81, 85 
Solmes, Count, 62 
Souches, General, 31, 33 
Spain, King of, 10, 115 



140 INDEX OF NAMES OF PERSONS. 



Spain, Queen of, 124 
Spinola, Marquis, 22 
St. Asaph, Bishop of, 134 
Steward, James, 55, 56 
Stirum, Count, 62 
Sunderland, Earl of, 133 
Swartzenburg, Countess of, 17 
Teage, Governor of Regan, 125 
Theresa, Maria, 22 
Tillotson, Dr. 134 
Torrington, Earl of, 116, 126, 

127, 129 
Tourville, Vice-Admiral, 132, 

133 

Treby, Sir George, Recorder of 

London, 89, 134 
Treiawney, Major-General, 128 
Trenchard, J. Esq. 134 
Trorap, Admiral, 22 
Turenne, General, 35 
Turner, Dr. 129 

Tyrconnel, Earl of, 53, 09, 108, 
128 

Vaudemont, Prince de, 31 
Vir, Colonel Paine, 27 
Vranden, Countess of, 1 
Waldeck, Count, 31, 34, 40 



Walker, Dr. 120, 126 
Ward, Dr. Seth, 107 
Webb, Cornet, 81 
Weddrington, 37 
Weymouth, Lord, 86 
William, Earl of Nassau, 2 
William, Count of Bergen, 7 
William Henry, of Nassau, 
Prince of Orange, 23, 24, 31, 
32, 38, 40, 44, 45, 51, 52, 53, 
55,59,74, 81,84, 85, 87, 91, 
95, 97, 98, 99, 101 
William, King of England, 103, 
107, 111, 114, 119, 123, 125, 
126, 130, 134, 135 
Wiltshire, Lord, 134 
Winchester, Marquis of, 133 
Wirtemburg, Prince of, 130 
Witt, Cornelius de, 23, 24, 25 
Witt, John de, 23, 24, 25 
Woolsey, Colonel, 122 
Worden, Sir J. 134 
Yarmouth, Lord, 87 
York, Duke of, 51 
York, Archbishop of, 73, 86 
Zell, Duke of, 130 
Zulestein, Monsieur, 87, 88 



141 



INDEX 



Of Names of Places. 



Aetb, 39 
Agram, 130 
Aire, City of, 36 
Aix, 53 
Aldernay, 133 
Alost, 39 
America, 114 
Amsterdam, 10, 23, 49 
Antwerp, 9, 10, 14, 15, 48 
Ardee, 125 
Ardenburg, 26, 28 
Artois, 2 
Athlone, 130 
Austria, 9 
Ballimore, 130 
Bantry Bay, 1 16 
Beachy, 64, 126 
Belfast, 121 
Belgrade, 135 
Bergen, 7 

Bergen ap Zoom, 20 
Bevesire, 126 
Beumont, 33 
Binch, Garrison of, 35 
Blair of Athol, 118 
Blair, Castle of, 119 



Bodegrave, 26 
Bois le Due, 21, 51 
Bommel, Fortress of, 30 
Boyne, River, 125 
Brabant, 6, 10 
Brandenburg, 59 
Breda, 1, 5, 19, 20, 22, 48 
Brest, 10S, 131, 132, 133 
Brill, 7 
Brinch, 31 
Bruges, 15 

Brussels, 5, 9, 10, 19, 34, 40, 41, 

48, 130, 131 
Burgundy, 4 
Calais, 64 
Cambray, 6, 38, 39 
Cambridge, 60, 90 
Cambron, 36 
Carrickfergus, 121, 125 
Cavan, 122 
Centra, 131 
Chalons, 2 

Charibbee Islands, 114 
Charlemont, Garrison of; 3, 10, 

124, 125 
Charleroy, 39 



142 



INDEX OF NAMES OF PLACES. 



Charleville, 36 
Cherbourg, 128, 132 
Cheshire, 75 
Chester, 77, 119, 125 
Cologne, 53, 59 
Conde, 49 
Cork, 128 
Cornwall, 77 
Coverden, City of, 28 
Creveceur, SO" 
Cuba, 21 

Delph, 15, 16, 17, 23, 53 
Dendermond, 15 
Denmark, 106 
Devonshire, 74 
Dieren, 48 
Dillemburg, 5 
Dillemburg, Castle of, 2 
Dorsetshire, 51 
Dort, 24, 25, 53 
Dover, 26, 64 
Drogheda, 125 

Dublin, 120, 125, 126, 128, 129 
Dundalk, 122, 125 
Dunnose, 126 
Dunkirk, 15 

Edinburgh, 97, 108, 111, 117, 

118 119 128 
England, 53, 54, 54, 55, 97, 99, 

104, 106, 107, 108, 112, 119, 
127 

Exeter, 64, 65, 72, 74 
Feversham, 131 

Flanders, 1, 2, 4, 10, 20, 21, 22, 
36, 41,43,48, 49, 125, 130, 131 
Flushing, 3, 7, 8, 28 
France, 6, 16, 31, 43, 78, 104, 

105, 106, 10$, 129 
Frankfort, 53 
Friezeland, 6, 10, 28 
Galloway, Fortress of, 131 



Gaunt, 3, 41 

Gemblours, 10 

Germain's, St. 45 

Germany, Empire of, 1, 6, 8, 10, 

£9, 59, 105, 115 
Gertrudenburg, Town of, 20 
Gilaire, St. 33 
Gloucester, 75 
Granville, 36 
Grave, 20, 34, 48 
Gravesend, 83, 89 
Greenwich, 83 
Groin, 124 
Groll, 21 
Groning, 20 
Groningen, 27 
Guelrierland, 8, 44 
Gueldres, 1, 10 
Guernsey, 132, 133 
Haarlem, 8 

Hague, the, 37, 40, 41, 43, 48, 

51, 62, 129 
Ham, 88 
Hampton, 109 
Harderwick, 30 
Harwich, 40 

Henley upon Thames, 86 
Hesse Cassel, 59 
Heynault, 7 
Highlake, 119 

Holland, 4, 7, 8, 10, 15, 22, 23, 
24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 40, 43, 51, 
60, 99, 115, 124, 131 

Homslaerdike, 40 

Hounsleyrdike, 51, 53 

Hounslow Heath, 53, 55, 72, 
119 

Hudson's Bay, 114 
Hulst, Fort of, 22 
Hungary, 1, 106 
Hunger ford, 81 



INDEX OF NAMES OF PLACES. 



143 



Innerlochy, 122 
Inverness, Fort of, 122 
Inniskilling, 100, 120 
Ipre, 41 

Ireland, 54, 104, 108, 115, 116, 

119, 128 
Jersey, 133 
Kent, 96, 127 
Kingsale, 128 
Lambeth, 83 
Lancashire, 77 
Languedoc, 47 
Leige, 53 

Lethindy, Castle of, 125 
Leyden, 8, 9, 23, 27 
Limburg, 35 
Limerick, 128, 131 
Lisburn, 122 
Lisnee Garvee, 122 
Locke, 1 

London, City of, 54, 58, 78, 82, 

88, 89, 104, 111, 127 
Londonderry, 100, 120 
Loo, 51, 130, 131 
Lough, Lake of, 120, 121 
Lovain, 7, 18 

Luxemburg, City of, 49, 134 
Lyme, 51 

Maestricht, 9, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, 

36, 37, 38, 51, 53 
Medway, River, 129 
Mehaine, 134 
Meurs, 20 
Middleburgh, 7 
Mocker Hyde, 59 
Mons, 33, 41, 129 
Montauban, 45 
Mount Cassal, 39 
Mull, Isle of, 119, 122 
Munster, 115 
Murray, County of, 128 



Naarden, 48 
Namur, 9, 131, 134 
Nantz, 45, 46, 49 
Netherlands, 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 

12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 28, 52 
New York, 114 
Newfoundland, 114 
Newmarket, 40 
Newport, 20 
Newry, 122 
Niewerbroug, 27 
Nimegen, 8, 35, 38, 42, 44, 47 
Nivelle, 31 
Normandy, 132 
North Forelands, 63 
Nottingham, 75 
Odousel, 21 
Omers, St. 38, 39 
Ommelands, 10 
Orange, 2, 47 
Ostend, 20 
Oudenard, 33 
Oxford, City of, 60, 75 
Oxford, Magdalen College, 54 
Paris, City of, 7, 29, 35, 39, 41, 

49, 108 
Philipsburg, 38, 105 
Philipville, 3 
Plymouth, 77 
Poland, 106 

Portsmouth, 78, 82, 83, 116 
Portugal, 22, 132 
Reading, 83 
Rhine, the, 6, 38 
Rhineburg, 20 
Rochel, 45 
Rochester, 88, 89 
Rome, 5, 53 
Rosandael, 35 
Rotterdam, 53 
Ruremond, 22 



144 



INDEX OF NAMES OF PLACES. 



Salisbury, 77, 78 
Sambre, 39 
Sembreef, 39 
SenefFe, 31 

Scotland, 51, 54, 55, 97, 98, 99, 

110, 112, 117, 118, 124, 128 
Scheveling, 53, 62 
Skelmerly, 111 
Skink Scans, 22 
Sligo, 100, 122 
Since, 20, 28 
Soestdyke, 48 
Somersetshire, 74 
Spain, 1, by 20, 43 
St. Helens, 132 
St. John's Town, 118 
St. Maloes, 133 
Stair, 111 

Static, Island of, 127 
Sterling, 118, 119 
Strall, 22 
Stratspey, 124 
Swammerdam, 27, 28 
Sweden, 106 
Teignmouth, 127 
Thames, River, 63 
Tilbury Fort, 82 



Torbav, 64 
Toulon, 132 
Treves, 29, 35 
Turkey, 106 
Torrenne, 29 
Twyford Bridge, 83, 84 
Utrecht, 4, 10, 21, 27, 28, 30, 44, 
48 

Valenciennes, 38, 39, 49 
Versailles, 130 
Veulo, 22 
Vlye, 51 

Walcheren, Castle of, 27 
Waterford, 125, 126 
Wessel, 21 
Wexford, 126 

Wifrht, Isle of, 64, 126, 132 
Wiliiamstadt, 21 
Wincarton, 81 
Windsor, 48, 78, 88 
Woerden, 27 
York, City of, 77 
Zealand, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 23, 29, 
44 

Zurich-zee, 9 
Zutphen, 4, 10 



FINIS. 



PRINTED BY W. SMITH AND CO. KING STREET, SEVEN DIALS. 



